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 (4251), Defensive Holding (3072), Roughing the Passer (1699), Illegal Contact (1030), Illegal Use of Hands (888), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (340), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (227), Taunting (130), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (38), 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	46467	0.010	0.081	0.102
Cleveland	46053	0.008	0.069	0.087
Minnesota	46688	0.009	0.074	0.107
Tampa Bay	47099	0.009	0.079	0.109
Green Bay	48767	0.010	0.077	0.115
Jacksonville	45954	0.009	0.074	0.096
Houston	47761	0.008	0.069	0.086
Seattle	48202	0.008	0.068	0.095
Denver	48076	0.009	0.074	0.102
Baltimore	49129	0.008	0.068	0.099
LA Chargers	46041	0.009	0.080	0.097
N.Y. Giants	46759	0.009	0.071	0.091
Cincinnati	47395	0.009	0.076	0.098
Detroit	46682	0.009	0.073	0.091
New England	50142	0.009	0.080	0.102
Arizona	46565	0.010	0.082	0.108
Kansas City	49610	0.009	0.077	0.085
Dallas	47335	0.009	0.076	0.094
San Francisco	48056	0.008	0.066	0.082
Pittsburgh	47144	0.009	0.074	0.111
Buffalo	47294	0.008	0.068	0.091
Washington	45912	0.008	0.070	0.087
Las Vegas	45668	0.008	0.071	0.101
N.Y. Jets	46254	0.008	0.067	0.091
New Orleans	48325	0.007	0.061	0.076
Philadelphia	49268	0.008	0.070	0.096
Chicago	45165	0.008	0.071	0.090
Indianapolis	47932	0.009	0.081	0.115
LA Rams	47024	0.008	0.064	0.087
Miami	45536	0.008	0.069	0.095
Tennessee	45986	0.009	0.070	0.087
Carolina	45961	0.008	0.069	0.086