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 (4362), Defensive Holding (3140), Roughing the Passer (1735), Illegal Contact (1064), Illegal Use of Hands (903), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (346), Horse Collar Tackle (255), Face Mask (251), Personal Foul (237), Taunting (138), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (43), 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	47731	0.010	0.081	0.101
Cleveland	47104	0.008	0.070	0.087
Minnesota	47832	0.009	0.075	0.107
Tampa Bay	48148	0.009	0.080	0.110
Green Bay	49928	0.009	0.077	0.115
Jacksonville	47195	0.009	0.076	0.097
Houston	48995	0.008	0.070	0.087
Seattle	49417	0.008	0.068	0.094
Denver	49187	0.009	0.073	0.100
Baltimore	50169	0.008	0.068	0.100
LA Chargers	47061	0.009	0.080	0.097
N.Y. Giants	47816	0.009	0.072	0.091
Cincinnati	48473	0.009	0.076	0.098
Detroit	47963	0.008	0.072	0.091
New England	51041	0.009	0.079	0.101
Arizona	47819	0.010	0.081	0.106
Kansas City	50820	0.009	0.078	0.087
Dallas	48413	0.009	0.076	0.094
San Francisco	48950	0.008	0.066	0.082
Pittsburgh	48367	0.009	0.075	0.111
Buffalo	48461	0.008	0.068	0.091
Washington	47082	0.008	0.070	0.088
Las Vegas	46831	0.008	0.071	0.101
N.Y. Jets	47331	0.008	0.067	0.091
New Orleans	49379	0.007	0.062	0.076
Philadelphia	50335	0.008	0.070	0.096
Chicago	46432	0.008	0.071	0.090
Indianapolis	48880	0.009	0.082	0.116
LA Rams	48275	0.008	0.063	0.086
Miami	46554	0.008	0.067	0.093
Tennessee	47020	0.008	0.070	0.086
Carolina	46961	0.008	0.068	0.085