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	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Atlanta	46034	0.010	0.080	0.101
Cleveland	45772	0.008	0.069	0.086
Minnesota	46399	0.009	0.074	0.107
Tampa Bay	46794	0.009	0.080	0.109
Green Bay	48461	0.009	0.077	0.115
Jacksonville	45791	0.009	0.074	0.096
Houston	47447	0.008	0.068	0.086
Seattle	48033	0.008	0.068	0.095
Denver	47740	0.009	0.075	0.102
Baltimore	48979	0.008	0.068	0.100
LA Chargers	45739	0.009	0.080	0.097
N.Y. Giants	46443	0.009	0.070	0.089
Cincinnati	47077	0.009	0.076	0.098
Detroit	46525	0.008	0.073	0.092
New England	49856	0.009	0.080	0.102
Arizona	46416	0.010	0.082	0.108
Kansas City	49481	0.009	0.077	0.085
Dallas	47017	0.009	0.076	0.092
San Francisco	47764	0.008	0.066	0.083
Pittsburgh	46830	0.009	0.074	0.111
Buffalo	46999	0.008	0.068	0.091
Washington	45605	0.008	0.070	0.086
Las Vegas	45539	0.008	0.071	0.101
N.Y. Jets	45937	0.008	0.068	0.091
New Orleans	48031	0.007	0.061	0.076
Philadelphia	48987	0.008	0.070	0.097
Chicago	44723	0.008	0.071	0.091
Indianapolis	47627	0.009	0.082	0.116
LA Rams	46861	0.008	0.063	0.086
Miami	45259	0.008	0.068	0.094
Tennessee	45696	0.009	0.070	0.087
Carolina	45656	0.008	0.069	0.086