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 (4238), Defensive Holding (3063), Roughing the Passer (1697), Illegal Contact (1027), Illegal Use of Hands (887), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (340), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (224), 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	46327	0.010	0.081	0.101
Cleveland	45909	0.008	0.069	0.087
Minnesota	46543	0.009	0.074	0.107
Tampa Bay	46951	0.009	0.080	0.109
Green Bay	48610	0.010	0.078	0.115
Jacksonville	45954	0.009	0.074	0.096
Houston	47616	0.008	0.069	0.086
Seattle	48202	0.008	0.068	0.095
Denver	47919	0.009	0.074	0.101
Baltimore	48979	0.008	0.068	0.100
LA Chargers	45896	0.009	0.080	0.097
N.Y. Giants	46622	0.009	0.071	0.091
Cincinnati	47234	0.009	0.076	0.098
Detroit	46682	0.009	0.073	0.091
New England	49998	0.009	0.079	0.102
Arizona	46565	0.010	0.082	0.108
Kansas City	49610	0.009	0.077	0.085
Dallas	47178	0.009	0.076	0.093
San Francisco	47911	0.008	0.066	0.083
Pittsburgh	46987	0.009	0.074	0.110
Buffalo	47145	0.008	0.068	0.091
Washington	45912	0.008	0.070	0.087
Las Vegas	45668	0.008	0.071	0.101
N.Y. Jets	46093	0.008	0.067	0.091
New Orleans	48177	0.007	0.062	0.077
Philadelphia	49131	0.008	0.070	0.096
Chicago	45015	0.008	0.071	0.090
Indianapolis	47784	0.009	0.082	0.116
LA Rams	47024	0.008	0.064	0.087
Miami	45396	0.008	0.068	0.094
Tennessee	45838	0.009	0.070	0.087
Carolina	45812	0.008	0.069	0.086