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 (3518), Defensive Holding (2618), Roughing the Passer (1452), Illegal Contact (827), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Illegal Use of Hands (764), Personal Foul (237), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (32), Roughing the Kicker (1), and Clipping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Atlanta	40152	0.009	0.078	0.096
Cleveland	39321	0.008	0.062	0.078
Minnesota	40287	0.008	0.063	0.092
Tampa Bay	40189	0.008	0.073	0.100
Green Bay	42113	0.009	0.075	0.107
Jacksonville	39621	0.008	0.068	0.086
Houston	40880	0.007	0.063	0.080
Seattle	41902	0.007	0.059	0.082
Denver	41456	0.009	0.073	0.098
Baltimore	42179	0.007	0.062	0.094
LA Chargers	39446	0.009	0.075	0.089
N.Y. Giants	40275	0.008	0.066	0.081
Cincinnati	40934	0.008	0.068	0.085
Detroit	39729	0.008	0.072	0.090
New England	43835	0.009	0.077	0.100
Arizona	40337	0.009	0.077	0.100
Kansas City	42368	0.008	0.069	0.074
Dallas	40608	0.008	0.065	0.078
San Francisco	41265	0.007	0.060	0.078
Pittsburgh	40598	0.008	0.070	0.104
Buffalo	40372	0.007	0.060	0.084
Washington	39060	0.008	0.063	0.077
Las Vegas	39470	0.008	0.066	0.095
N.Y. Jets	39835	0.007	0.062	0.082
New Orleans	41807	0.007	0.054	0.067
Philadelphia	42007	0.008	0.067	0.094
Chicago	38955	0.008	0.068	0.088
Indianapolis	41322	0.009	0.076	0.107
LA Rams	40257	0.007	0.054	0.074
Miami	39082	0.008	0.065	0.091
Tennessee	39704	0.008	0.063	0.077
Carolina	39540	0.007	0.062	0.075