NFL Penalty Tracker
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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 (3796), Defensive Holding (2801), Roughing the Passer (1551), Illegal Contact (917), Illegal Use of Hands (810), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (319), Horse Collar Tackle (238), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (128), Taunting (122), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (33), Lowering the Head to Make Forcible Contact (4), Roughing the Kicker (1), and Clipping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.
TeamTotal1st Down2nd Down3rd Down4th Down3rd & LongDesperationYardage MitigatedPenalty Yards
Miami3641261011268753830134045
Minnesota3411259710811693629753920
Cleveland3651201211139744330524365
Dallas39313412511910743732904025
Carolina317110981017632826593603
Cincinnati3341091111065633428553695
Arizona3781411281045653332854069
Tennessee35813610810112643030954210
San Francisco3811151221377864632754216
LA Chargers3521149412911803529473742
Baltimore42114913611914693335724691
Pittsburgh3451131249312512929054032
Washington327123101939522427113743
Atlanta318109931066622526703533
N.Y. Giants320110999911663127203627
Las Vegas4391661221419994438314843
Indianapolis3251101011065592626023555
Chicago311901011118572024363817
Denver3991431221275812833934249
LA Rams35412910310910683430123894
Green Bay335126971046582527063633
Philadelphia3751261141276804431924029
Houston3991221381299783832864734
Kansas City4041481071379784333684326
Seattle3961281161446904133184444
Detroit4231531121479803835284471
New England3571291111123702930064108
Tampa Bay354147959614552930763754
New Orleans46415414914118843238625163
Buffalo3931521151169813733354173
N.Y. Jets41314210814612925134884623
Jacksonville344139911058612628724089
Totals117994138356037522832284108799335131421