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 (4141), Defensive Holding (3008), Roughing the Passer (1670), Illegal Contact (989), Illegal Use of Hands (872), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (337), Horse Collar Tackle (253), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (201), 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	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Atlanta	45742	0.010	0.080	0.101
Cleveland	45161	0.008	0.069	0.087
Minnesota	45946	0.009	0.074	0.107
Tampa Bay	46186	0.009	0.078	0.108
Green Bay	47990	0.009	0.077	0.115
Jacksonville	45186	0.009	0.073	0.095
Houston	47023	0.008	0.067	0.086
Seattle	47422	0.008	0.067	0.094
Denver	47130	0.009	0.075	0.103
Baltimore	48399	0.008	0.068	0.100
LA Chargers	45129	0.009	0.080	0.097
N.Y. Giants	45835	0.008	0.069	0.088
Cincinnati	46486	0.009	0.076	0.098
Detroit	45933	0.009	0.073	0.092
New England	49296	0.009	0.079	0.102
Arizona	45791	0.010	0.082	0.107
Kansas City	48898	0.009	0.077	0.084
Dallas	46377	0.009	0.076	0.092
San Francisco	47134	0.008	0.066	0.083
Pittsburgh	46381	0.009	0.075	0.111
Buffalo	46564	0.008	0.068	0.091
Washington	45162	0.008	0.070	0.086
Las Vegas	44956	0.008	0.071	0.101
N.Y. Jets	45330	0.008	0.067	0.091
New Orleans	47433	0.007	0.060	0.075
Philadelphia	48363	0.008	0.070	0.096
Chicago	44430	0.008	0.071	0.091
Indianapolis	47021	0.009	0.082	0.116
LA Rams	46229	0.008	0.062	0.085
Miami	44676	0.008	0.069	0.095
Tennessee	45112	0.008	0.070	0.087
Carolina	45073	0.008	0.068	0.085