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 (4128), Defensive Holding (2996), Roughing the Passer (1662), Illegal Contact (981), Illegal Use of Hands (868), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (336), Horse Collar Tackle (252), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (198), Taunting (129), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (34), 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	44539	0.009	0.073	0.096
Minnesota	45812	0.008	0.069	0.092
Cleveland	45002	0.009	0.071	0.102
Dallas	46189	0.009	0.075	0.091
Carolina	44922	0.008	0.064	0.087
Cincinnati	46322	0.008	0.068	0.087
Arizona	45640	0.009	0.075	0.094
Tennessee	44956	0.009	0.076	0.102
San Francisco	46971	0.009	0.073	0.095
LA Chargers	44987	0.008	0.070	0.088
Baltimore	48240	0.010	0.082	0.108
Pittsburgh	46228	0.008	0.067	0.092
Washington	45162	0.008	0.068	0.094
Atlanta	45608	0.007	0.062	0.081
N.Y. Giants	45647	0.007	0.064	0.087
Las Vegas	44814	0.010	0.089	0.114
Indianapolis	46871	0.007	0.059	0.080
Chicago	44275	0.007	0.058	0.092
Denver	46980	0.009	0.079	0.100
LA Rams	46073	0.008	0.070	0.090
Green Bay	47990	0.007	0.059	0.079
Philadelphia	48221	0.008	0.071	0.091
Houston	46877	0.009	0.077	0.108
Kansas City	48756	0.009	0.074	0.095
Seattle	47269	0.009	0.075	0.101
Detroit	45778	0.010	0.086	0.108
New England	49159	0.008	0.066	0.090
Tampa Bay	46040	0.008	0.072	0.088
New Orleans	47270	0.010	0.085	0.115
Buffalo	46417	0.009	0.076	0.093
N.Y. Jets	45183	0.010	0.084	0.112
Jacksonville	45022	0.008	0.070	0.098