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 (4312), Defensive Holding (3103), Roughing the Passer (1718), Illegal Contact (1046), Illegal Use of Hands (893), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (342), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (237), Taunting (134), 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	47107	0.010	0.081	0.101
Cleveland	46505	0.008	0.070	0.087
Minnesota	47290	0.009	0.075	0.107
Tampa Bay	47557	0.009	0.080	0.109
Green Bay	49327	0.009	0.077	0.115
Jacksonville	46577	0.009	0.075	0.097
Houston	48392	0.008	0.069	0.086
Seattle	48796	0.008	0.068	0.095
Denver	48540	0.009	0.074	0.101
Baltimore	49716	0.008	0.068	0.100
LA Chargers	46464	0.009	0.080	0.097
N.Y. Giants	47391	0.009	0.072	0.091
Cincinnati	47884	0.009	0.076	0.098
Detroit	47315	0.008	0.072	0.091
New England	50749	0.009	0.079	0.102
Arizona	47206	0.010	0.082	0.107
Kansas City	50219	0.009	0.078	0.087
Dallas	47796	0.009	0.076	0.094
San Francisco	48519	0.008	0.066	0.082
Pittsburgh	47766	0.009	0.075	0.111
Buffalo	47893	0.008	0.068	0.091
Washington	46471	0.008	0.070	0.087
Las Vegas	46282	0.008	0.071	0.101
N.Y. Jets	46688	0.008	0.067	0.090
New Orleans	48763	0.007	0.061	0.076
Philadelphia	49727	0.008	0.070	0.096
Chicago	45821	0.008	0.071	0.090
Indianapolis	48432	0.009	0.081	0.115
LA Rams	47621	0.008	0.063	0.087
Miami	45960	0.008	0.068	0.094
Tennessee	46422	0.009	0.070	0.087
Carolina	46400	0.008	0.069	0.086