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 (4312), Defensive Holding (3103), Roughing the Passer (1718), Illegal Contact (1046), Illegal Use of Hands (893), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (342), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (237), 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	45960	0.009	0.074	0.097
Minnesota	47290	0.008	0.069	0.091
Cleveland	46505	0.009	0.072	0.101
Dallas	47796	0.009	0.074	0.092
Carolina	46400	0.008	0.064	0.086
Cincinnati	47884	0.008	0.068	0.087
Arizona	47206	0.009	0.076	0.094
Tennessee	46422	0.009	0.075	0.101
San Francisco	48519	0.009	0.074	0.094
LA Chargers	46464	0.008	0.069	0.088
Baltimore	49716	0.010	0.082	0.108
Pittsburgh	47766	0.008	0.067	0.092
Washington	46471	0.008	0.067	0.095
Atlanta	47107	0.007	0.062	0.081
N.Y. Giants	47391	0.008	0.066	0.091
Las Vegas	46282	0.010	0.088	0.113
Indianapolis	48432	0.008	0.061	0.082
Chicago	45821	0.008	0.060	0.093
Denver	48540	0.010	0.082	0.104
LA Rams	47621	0.008	0.071	0.090
Green Bay	49327	0.008	0.060	0.080
Philadelphia	49727	0.008	0.072	0.092
Houston	48392	0.009	0.078	0.107
Kansas City	50219	0.009	0.074	0.095
Seattle	48796	0.009	0.076	0.101
Detroit	47315	0.010	0.086	0.108
New England	50749	0.008	0.066	0.090
Tampa Bay	47557	0.008	0.073	0.088
New Orleans	48763	0.010	0.085	0.115
Buffalo	47893	0.009	0.076	0.092
N.Y. Jets	46688	0.010	0.086	0.113
Jacksonville	46577	0.008	0.071	0.099