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 (3917), Defensive Holding (2876), Roughing the Passer (1599), Illegal Contact (935), Illegal Use of Hands (830), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (321), Horse Collar Tackle (242), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (149), Taunting (124), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (33), Lowering the Head to Make Forcible Contact (4), Roughing the Kicker (1), and Clipping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Atlanta	43906	0.010	0.080	0.101
Cleveland	43280	0.008	0.068	0.086
Minnesota	43968	0.009	0.072	0.104
Tampa Bay	44202	0.009	0.077	0.107
Green Bay	46085	0.010	0.078	0.115
Jacksonville	43329	0.009	0.074	0.097
Houston	44905	0.008	0.067	0.086
Seattle	45646	0.008	0.068	0.094
Denver	45115	0.009	0.075	0.103
Baltimore	46271	0.008	0.067	0.101
LA Chargers	42994	0.009	0.079	0.095
N.Y. Giants	43963	0.008	0.068	0.085
Cincinnati	44596	0.009	0.074	0.095
Detroit	43771	0.009	0.074	0.094
New England	47481	0.009	0.078	0.103
Arizona	43964	0.010	0.082	0.106
Kansas City	46475	0.009	0.077	0.084
Dallas	44327	0.009	0.074	0.089
San Francisco	45346	0.008	0.066	0.084
Pittsburgh	44375	0.009	0.075	0.112
Buffalo	44304	0.007	0.065	0.089
Washington	42765	0.008	0.068	0.084
Las Vegas	43090	0.008	0.072	0.103
N.Y. Jets	43541	0.008	0.066	0.089
New Orleans	45554	0.007	0.060	0.075
Philadelphia	45762	0.008	0.070	0.096
Chicago	42471	0.008	0.072	0.093
Indianapolis	45161	0.009	0.082	0.114
LA Rams	44107	0.007	0.062	0.086
Miami	42723	0.008	0.070	0.097
Tennessee	43155	0.008	0.069	0.087
Carolina	43178	0.008	0.068	0.083