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 (4324), Defensive Holding (3111), Roughing the Passer (1723), Illegal Contact (1052), Illegal Use of Hands (895), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (346), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Face Mask (239), Personal Foul (237), Taunting (135), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (39), 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	47271	0.010	0.081	0.101
Cleveland	46652	0.008	0.070	0.087
Minnesota	47426	0.009	0.075	0.107
Tampa Bay	47699	0.009	0.079	0.109
Green Bay	49472	0.009	0.077	0.115
Jacksonville	46716	0.009	0.075	0.097
Houston	48537	0.008	0.069	0.086
Seattle	48932	0.008	0.068	0.095
Denver	48725	0.009	0.073	0.101
Baltimore	49882	0.008	0.068	0.100
LA Chargers	46600	0.009	0.080	0.098
N.Y. Giants	47391	0.009	0.072	0.091
Cincinnati	48050	0.009	0.076	0.098
Detroit	47460	0.008	0.073	0.091
New England	50749	0.009	0.079	0.102
Arizona	47348	0.010	0.081	0.107
Kansas City	50373	0.009	0.078	0.087
Dallas	47950	0.009	0.076	0.095
San Francisco	48801	0.008	0.066	0.082
Pittsburgh	47904	0.009	0.075	0.111
Buffalo	48031	0.008	0.068	0.091
Washington	46656	0.008	0.070	0.087
Las Vegas	46418	0.008	0.071	0.101
N.Y. Jets	46852	0.008	0.067	0.090
New Orleans	48919	0.007	0.061	0.076
Philadelphia	49891	0.008	0.070	0.096
Chicago	45985	0.008	0.071	0.090
Indianapolis	48577	0.009	0.082	0.116
LA Rams	47760	0.008	0.063	0.087
Miami	46116	0.008	0.068	0.094
Tennessee	46561	0.009	0.070	0.086
Carolina	46674	0.008	0.068	0.085