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 (4293), Defensive Holding (3100), Roughing the Passer (1713), Illegal Contact (1040), Illegal Use of Hands (893), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (342), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (234), 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	46947	0.010	0.081	0.102
Cleveland	46348	0.008	0.070	0.087
Minnesota	47156	0.009	0.075	0.107
Tampa Bay	47411	0.009	0.079	0.109
Green Bay	49193	0.009	0.077	0.115
Jacksonville	46409	0.009	0.075	0.098
Houston	48239	0.008	0.069	0.086
Seattle	48654	0.008	0.069	0.095
Denver	48540	0.009	0.074	0.101
Baltimore	49576	0.008	0.068	0.099
LA Chargers	46464	0.009	0.080	0.097
N.Y. Giants	47215	0.009	0.072	0.091
Cincinnati	47726	0.009	0.076	0.098
Detroit	47139	0.008	0.072	0.091
New England	50591	0.009	0.080	0.101
Arizona	47038	0.010	0.082	0.107
Kansas City	50047	0.009	0.078	0.086
Dallas	47490	0.009	0.075	0.093
San Francisco	48519	0.008	0.066	0.082
Pittsburgh	47608	0.009	0.075	0.111
Buffalo	47740	0.008	0.068	0.091
Washington	46471	0.008	0.070	0.087
Las Vegas	45975	0.008	0.071	0.101
N.Y. Jets	46548	0.008	0.067	0.090
New Orleans	48603	0.007	0.061	0.076
Philadelphia	49571	0.008	0.070	0.096
Chicago	45663	0.008	0.071	0.090
Indianapolis	48260	0.009	0.081	0.115
LA Rams	47475	0.008	0.063	0.087
Miami	45960	0.008	0.068	0.094
Tennessee	46280	0.009	0.070	0.087
Carolina	46400	0.008	0.069	0.086