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 (4211), Defensive Holding (3052), Roughing the Passer (1688), Illegal Contact (1013), Illegal Use of Hands (885), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (339), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (216), Taunting (130), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (37), 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	45259	0.009	0.074	0.096
Minnesota	46399	0.008	0.069	0.091
Cleveland	45772	0.009	0.072	0.102
Dallas	47017	0.009	0.075	0.092
Carolina	45656	0.008	0.064	0.087
Cincinnati	47077	0.008	0.068	0.087
Arizona	46416	0.009	0.076	0.094
Tennessee	45696	0.009	0.076	0.102
San Francisco	47764	0.009	0.074	0.095
LA Chargers	45739	0.008	0.070	0.088
Baltimore	48979	0.010	0.082	0.108
Pittsburgh	46830	0.008	0.067	0.092
Washington	45605	0.008	0.067	0.093
Atlanta	46034	0.007	0.062	0.081
N.Y. Giants	46443	0.008	0.065	0.090
Las Vegas	45539	0.010	0.089	0.113
Indianapolis	47627	0.008	0.060	0.080
Chicago	44723	0.007	0.058	0.091
Denver	47740	0.009	0.080	0.102
LA Rams	46861	0.008	0.070	0.090
Green Bay	48461	0.007	0.059	0.079
Philadelphia	48987	0.008	0.072	0.092
Houston	47447	0.009	0.078	0.108
Kansas City	49481	0.009	0.075	0.096
Seattle	48033	0.009	0.075	0.102
Detroit	46525	0.010	0.086	0.108
New England	49856	0.008	0.066	0.091
Tampa Bay	46794	0.008	0.073	0.088
New Orleans	48031	0.010	0.086	0.115
Buffalo	46999	0.009	0.076	0.093
N.Y. Jets	45937	0.010	0.085	0.113
Jacksonville	45791	0.008	0.070	0.097