Automatic First Downs - 2009 to Present

This page shows all penalties that resulted in an automatic first down based on the type of penalty. There are many additional penalties that based on the penalty yardage and distance remaining resulted in a first down.

"3rd & Long" is 3rd down and 6 or more yards. "Desperation" is 3rd and 10 or more or 4th and 6 or more. "Yardage Mitigated" is the total yardage the team had left to get a first down when the flag was thrown granting a gratis first down. Remember: There are more first down plays than 2nd down plays, more 2nd down plays than 3rd, and so on.

Beneficiary means the team benefitted from the penalty. Declined and Offsetting penalties are not shown in this table. Penalties occurring on special teams are not included.

The table below contains the following penalties: Defensive Pass Interference (4363), Defensive Holding (3142), Roughing the Passer (1735), Illegal Contact (1064), Illegal Use of Hands (903), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (346), Horse Collar Tackle (255), Face Mask (252), Personal Foul (237), Taunting (138), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (43), Lowering the Head to Make Forcible Contact (5), Roughing the Kicker (1), and Clipping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Miami	46554	0.009	0.074	0.097
Minnesota	47832	0.008	0.069	0.092
Cleveland	47104	0.008	0.071	0.100
Dallas	48413	0.009	0.074	0.092
Carolina	46961	0.008	0.065	0.086
Cincinnati	48473	0.008	0.068	0.086
Arizona	47819	0.009	0.075	0.093
Tennessee	47020	0.009	0.076	0.102
San Francisco	49106	0.009	0.073	0.094
LA Chargers	47061	0.008	0.069	0.087
Baltimore	50319	0.010	0.081	0.107
Pittsburgh	48367	0.008	0.067	0.092
Washington	47082	0.008	0.068	0.095
Atlanta	47731	0.007	0.063	0.082
N.Y. Giants	47816	0.008	0.066	0.090
Las Vegas	46831	0.010	0.089	0.115
Indianapolis	49036	0.008	0.061	0.081
Chicago	46432	0.007	0.059	0.093
Denver	49187	0.010	0.082	0.104
LA Rams	48275	0.008	0.070	0.089
Green Bay	49928	0.008	0.060	0.080
Philadelphia	50335	0.008	0.071	0.091
Houston	48995	0.009	0.078	0.108
Kansas City	50820	0.009	0.074	0.096
Seattle	49417	0.009	0.076	0.101
Detroit	47963	0.010	0.085	0.107
New England	51191	0.008	0.065	0.090
Tampa Bay	48148	0.008	0.072	0.087
New Orleans	49379	0.010	0.084	0.114
Buffalo	48461	0.009	0.076	0.093
N.Y. Jets	47331	0.010	0.085	0.112
Jacksonville	47195	0.009	0.071	0.099