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	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Atlanta	42970	0.010	0.080	0.100
Cleveland	42372	0.008	0.068	0.086
Minnesota	43054	0.009	0.072	0.102
Tampa Bay	43237	0.009	0.077	0.106
Green Bay	45176	0.010	0.079	0.115
Jacksonville	42424	0.009	0.075	0.099
Houston	43978	0.008	0.068	0.087
Seattle	44696	0.008	0.067	0.093
Denver	44208	0.009	0.076	0.104
Baltimore	45320	0.008	0.067	0.102
LA Chargers	42285	0.009	0.080	0.096
N.Y. Giants	43051	0.008	0.068	0.086
Cincinnati	43655	0.009	0.074	0.096
Detroit	43009	0.009	0.075	0.094
New England	46571	0.009	0.078	0.102
Arizona	43089	0.010	0.082	0.106
Kansas City	45733	0.009	0.076	0.083
Dallas	43555	0.009	0.072	0.088
San Francisco	44443	0.008	0.065	0.083
Pittsburgh	43479	0.009	0.074	0.110
Buffalo	43556	0.008	0.065	0.089
Washington	41884	0.008	0.068	0.083
Las Vegas	42171	0.008	0.071	0.103
N.Y. Jets	42636	0.008	0.066	0.089
New Orleans	44622	0.007	0.060	0.076
Philadelphia	45011	0.008	0.071	0.098
Chicago	41706	0.008	0.070	0.091
Indianapolis	44227	0.009	0.081	0.114
LA Rams	43223	0.007	0.061	0.084
Miami	42113	0.008	0.069	0.096
Tennessee	42423	0.008	0.068	0.085
Carolina	42271	0.008	0.068	0.084