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 (3812), Defensive Holding (2809), Roughing the Passer (1557), Illegal Contact (919), Illegal Use of Hands (814), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (319), Horse Collar Tackle (239), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (131), 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.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Miami	41971	0.009	0.072	0.098
Minnesota	43054	0.008	0.069	0.091
Cleveland	42372	0.009	0.072	0.103
Dallas	43555	0.009	0.076	0.093
Carolina	42271	0.008	0.063	0.086
Cincinnati	43655	0.008	0.065	0.085
Arizona	43089	0.009	0.077	0.095
Tennessee	42423	0.008	0.073	0.099
San Francisco	44443	0.009	0.074	0.095
LA Chargers	42285	0.008	0.070	0.088
Baltimore	45320	0.009	0.079	0.104
Pittsburgh	43479	0.008	0.067	0.093
Washington	41884	0.008	0.065	0.090
Atlanta	42970	0.007	0.062	0.082
N.Y. Giants	43051	0.007	0.064	0.085
Las Vegas	42171	0.010	0.091	0.115
Indianapolis	44227	0.007	0.059	0.081
Chicago	41706	0.007	0.058	0.092
Denver	44208	0.009	0.077	0.097
LA Rams	43223	0.008	0.070	0.090
Green Bay	45176	0.007	0.060	0.081
Philadelphia	45011	0.008	0.071	0.090
Houston	43978	0.009	0.075	0.108
Kansas City	45733	0.009	0.074	0.095
Seattle	44696	0.009	0.074	0.099
Detroit	43009	0.010	0.083	0.105
New England	46571	0.008	0.065	0.089
Tampa Bay	43237	0.008	0.072	0.087
New Orleans	44622	0.010	0.087	0.116
Buffalo	43414	0.009	0.077	0.096
N.Y. Jets	42636	0.010	0.082	0.109
Jacksonville	42424	0.008	0.068	0.097