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 (3729), Defensive Holding (2752), Roughing the Passer (1529), Illegal Contact (896), Illegal Use of Hands (797), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (317), Personal Foul (237), Horse Collar Tackle (233), Taunting (121), Face Mask (112), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (32), 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	40915	0.009	0.071	0.097
Minnesota	42139	0.008	0.069	0.092
Cleveland	41229	0.009	0.073	0.104
Dallas	42466	0.009	0.077	0.094
Carolina	41400	0.008	0.063	0.085
Cincinnati	42768	0.008	0.066	0.086
Arizona	42330	0.009	0.077	0.095
Tennessee	41511	0.008	0.072	0.099
San Francisco	43059	0.009	0.074	0.094
LA Chargers	41347	0.008	0.071	0.089
Baltimore	44072	0.009	0.079	0.104
Pittsburgh	42593	0.008	0.067	0.093
Washington	41123	0.008	0.065	0.089
Atlanta	42037	0.007	0.062	0.083
N.Y. Giants	42131	0.008	0.064	0.085
Las Vegas	41255	0.011	0.092	0.116
Indianapolis	43318	0.007	0.059	0.081
Chicago	40785	0.008	0.060	0.093
Denver	43262	0.009	0.078	0.098
LA Rams	42129	0.008	0.071	0.091
Green Bay	43958	0.007	0.060	0.081
Philadelphia	43921	0.008	0.071	0.088
Houston	42767	0.009	0.076	0.110
Kansas City	44162	0.009	0.075	0.095
Seattle	43791	0.009	0.075	0.101
Detroit	41605	0.010	0.083	0.105
New England	45833	0.008	0.065	0.089
Tampa Bay	42023	0.008	0.071	0.087
New Orleans	43716	0.011	0.087	0.117
Buffalo	42208	0.009	0.077	0.098
N.Y. Jets	41711	0.010	0.081	0.109
Jacksonville	41504	0.008	0.069	0.098