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 (4262), Defensive Holding (3081), Roughing the Passer (1703), Illegal Contact (1032), Illegal Use of Hands (889), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (341), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (231), Taunting (131), 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	46616	0.010	0.081	0.101
Cleveland	46053	0.008	0.069	0.087
Minnesota	46840	0.009	0.075	0.107
Tampa Bay	47099	0.009	0.079	0.109
Green Bay	48902	0.009	0.077	0.115
Jacksonville	46119	0.009	0.074	0.096
Houston	47929	0.008	0.068	0.085
Seattle	48337	0.008	0.069	0.095
Denver	48244	0.009	0.074	0.102
Baltimore	49272	0.008	0.067	0.099
LA Chargers	46180	0.009	0.080	0.097
N.Y. Giants	46911	0.009	0.071	0.090
Cincinnati	47575	0.009	0.076	0.098
Detroit	46834	0.008	0.073	0.091
New England	50291	0.009	0.079	0.102
Arizona	46565	0.010	0.082	0.108
Kansas City	49893	0.009	0.077	0.085
Dallas	47335	0.009	0.076	0.094
San Francisco	48208	0.008	0.066	0.082
Pittsburgh	47308	0.009	0.074	0.111
Buffalo	47441	0.008	0.067	0.091
Washington	46183	0.008	0.070	0.087
Las Vegas	45833	0.008	0.071	0.101
N.Y. Jets	46254	0.008	0.067	0.091
New Orleans	48466	0.007	0.061	0.076
Philadelphia	49268	0.008	0.070	0.096
Chicago	45345	0.008	0.071	0.090
Indianapolis	48096	0.009	0.082	0.115
LA Rams	47165	0.008	0.064	0.088
Miami	45679	0.008	0.069	0.095
Tennessee	46125	0.008	0.070	0.086
Carolina	46096	0.008	0.069	0.085