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 (4262), Defensive Holding (3082), Roughing the Passer (1703), Illegal Contact (1032), Illegal Use of Hands (889), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (341), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (231), Taunting (131), 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	45679	0.009	0.074	0.097
Minnesota	46840	0.008	0.069	0.091
Cleveland	46053	0.009	0.072	0.101
Dallas	47490	0.009	0.075	0.092
Carolina	46096	0.008	0.064	0.086
Cincinnati	47575	0.008	0.067	0.086
Arizona	46720	0.009	0.076	0.094
Tennessee	46125	0.009	0.076	0.101
San Francisco	48208	0.009	0.074	0.095
LA Chargers	46180	0.008	0.069	0.087
Baltimore	49272	0.010	0.082	0.107
Pittsburgh	47308	0.008	0.067	0.092
Washington	46183	0.008	0.068	0.095
Atlanta	46616	0.007	0.062	0.081
N.Y. Giants	46911	0.008	0.066	0.090
Las Vegas	45833	0.010	0.089	0.113
Indianapolis	48096	0.008	0.060	0.081
Chicago	45345	0.007	0.059	0.092
Denver	48244	0.010	0.081	0.103
LA Rams	47165	0.008	0.070	0.090
Green Bay	48902	0.008	0.060	0.080
Philadelphia	49268	0.008	0.071	0.092
Houston	47929	0.009	0.077	0.107
Kansas City	49893	0.009	0.074	0.095
Seattle	48337	0.009	0.076	0.102
Detroit	46834	0.010	0.086	0.108
New England	50291	0.008	0.066	0.090
Tampa Bay	47099	0.008	0.073	0.088
New Orleans	48466	0.010	0.085	0.115
Buffalo	47441	0.009	0.076	0.093
N.Y. Jets	46254	0.010	0.084	0.112
Jacksonville	46119	0.008	0.071	0.099