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 (4374), Defensive Holding (3150), Roughing the Passer (1739), Illegal Contact (1068), Illegal Use of Hands (907), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (346), Horse Collar Tackle (256), Face Mask (255), Personal Foul (237), Taunting (139), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (44), 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	47241	0.008	0.070	0.087
Minnesota	47974	0.009	0.075	0.107
Tampa Bay	48291	0.009	0.081	0.110
Green Bay	50072	0.009	0.077	0.115
Jacksonville	47345	0.009	0.075	0.097
Houston	49146	0.008	0.070	0.087
Seattle	49557	0.008	0.069	0.094
Denver	49322	0.009	0.073	0.100
Baltimore	50463	0.008	0.068	0.099
LA Chargers	47212	0.009	0.080	0.097
N.Y. Giants	47956	0.009	0.072	0.091
Cincinnati	48628	0.009	0.076	0.098
Detroit	48105	0.008	0.072	0.091
New England	51340	0.009	0.079	0.102
Arizona	47974	0.010	0.081	0.106
Kansas City	50955	0.009	0.078	0.087
Dallas	48572	0.009	0.076	0.094
San Francisco	49270	0.008	0.066	0.081
Pittsburgh	48504	0.009	0.075	0.111
Buffalo	48614	0.008	0.068	0.092
Washington	47241	0.008	0.071	0.088
Las Vegas	46971	0.008	0.071	0.101
N.Y. Jets	47480	0.008	0.067	0.091
New Orleans	49537	0.007	0.062	0.076
Philadelphia	50488	0.008	0.070	0.096
Chicago	46596	0.008	0.071	0.089
Indianapolis	49186	0.009	0.082	0.116
LA Rams	48275	0.008	0.063	0.086
Miami	46697	0.008	0.067	0.092
Tennessee	47178	0.008	0.070	0.087
Carolina	47101	0.008	0.068	0.084