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 (4277), Defensive Holding (3093), Roughing the Passer (1708), Illegal Contact (1036), Illegal Use of Hands (890), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (342), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (231), Taunting (134), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (39), 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	45821	0.009	0.074	0.097
Minnesota	46998	0.008	0.069	0.091
Cleveland	46202	0.009	0.072	0.101
Dallas	47490	0.009	0.075	0.092
Carolina	46233	0.008	0.064	0.086
Cincinnati	47575	0.008	0.067	0.086
Arizona	46881	0.009	0.076	0.094
Tennessee	46125	0.009	0.076	0.101
San Francisco	48362	0.009	0.074	0.095
LA Chargers	46180	0.008	0.069	0.087
Baltimore	49430	0.010	0.082	0.108
Pittsburgh	47308	0.008	0.067	0.092
Washington	46332	0.008	0.067	0.095
Atlanta	46780	0.007	0.062	0.081
N.Y. Giants	47071	0.008	0.066	0.090
Las Vegas	45975	0.010	0.088	0.113
Indianapolis	48260	0.008	0.060	0.081
Chicago	45505	0.007	0.060	0.092
Denver	48386	0.010	0.081	0.102
LA Rams	47319	0.008	0.070	0.090
Green Bay	48902	0.008	0.060	0.080
Philadelphia	49268	0.008	0.071	0.092
Houston	48084	0.009	0.078	0.108
Kansas City	49893	0.009	0.074	0.095
Seattle	48498	0.009	0.076	0.102
Detroit	46983	0.010	0.086	0.108
New England	50446	0.008	0.066	0.090
Tampa Bay	47254	0.008	0.073	0.088
New Orleans	48603	0.010	0.085	0.115
Buffalo	47583	0.009	0.076	0.092
N.Y. Jets	46403	0.010	0.085	0.113
Jacksonville	46274	0.008	0.071	0.099