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 (4338), Defensive Holding (3119), Roughing the Passer (1728), Illegal Contact (1055), Illegal Use of Hands (898), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (346), Horse Collar Tackle (254), Face Mask (245), Personal Foul (237), Taunting (136), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (40), 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	47419	0.010	0.081	0.102
Cleveland	46819	0.008	0.070	0.087
Minnesota	47553	0.009	0.075	0.107
Tampa Bay	47847	0.009	0.080	0.109
Green Bay	49619	0.009	0.077	0.115
Jacksonville	46871	0.009	0.075	0.097
Houston	48694	0.008	0.069	0.086
Seattle	49080	0.008	0.068	0.095
Denver	48866	0.009	0.074	0.101
Baltimore	50040	0.008	0.068	0.100
LA Chargers	46773	0.009	0.080	0.097
N.Y. Giants	47535	0.009	0.071	0.091
Cincinnati	48194	0.009	0.076	0.099
Detroit	47629	0.008	0.072	0.091
New England	50893	0.009	0.079	0.102
Arizona	47508	0.010	0.081	0.107
Kansas City	50530	0.009	0.078	0.087
Dallas	48119	0.009	0.076	0.095
San Francisco	48801	0.008	0.066	0.082
Pittsburgh	48062	0.009	0.075	0.111
Buffalo	48175	0.008	0.068	0.091
Washington	46783	0.008	0.070	0.087
Las Vegas	46559	0.008	0.071	0.101
N.Y. Jets	47003	0.008	0.067	0.091
New Orleans	49067	0.007	0.061	0.076
Philadelphia	50064	0.008	0.070	0.095
Chicago	46132	0.008	0.071	0.090
Indianapolis	48732	0.009	0.082	0.116
LA Rams	47920	0.008	0.063	0.087
Miami	46267	0.008	0.068	0.093
Tennessee	46728	0.008	0.070	0.086
Carolina	46674	0.008	0.068	0.085