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	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Miami	39082	0.008	0.069	0.093
Minnesota	40287	0.007	0.064	0.085
Cleveland	39321	0.008	0.068	0.097
Dallas	40608	0.009	0.071	0.087
Carolina	39540	0.007	0.060	0.081
Cincinnati	40934	0.007	0.059	0.075
Arizona	40337	0.008	0.070	0.085
Tennessee	39704	0.007	0.063	0.088
San Francisco	41265	0.008	0.069	0.086
LA Chargers	39446	0.008	0.064	0.080
Baltimore	42179	0.009	0.073	0.094
Pittsburgh	40598	0.007	0.062	0.086
Washington	39060	0.007	0.059	0.081
Atlanta	40152	0.007	0.057	0.077
N.Y. Giants	40275	0.007	0.059	0.080
Las Vegas	39470	0.010	0.088	0.110
Indianapolis	41322	0.007	0.056	0.076
Chicago	38955	0.007	0.053	0.083
Denver	41456	0.009	0.073	0.090
LA Rams	40257	0.007	0.062	0.083
Green Bay	42113	0.007	0.056	0.075
Philadelphia	42007	0.008	0.065	0.081
Houston	40880	0.009	0.073	0.101
Kansas City	42368	0.008	0.070	0.088
Seattle	41902	0.008	0.067	0.089
Detroit	39729	0.009	0.077	0.096
New England	43835	0.007	0.064	0.087
Tampa Bay	40189	0.007	0.065	0.078
New Orleans	41807	0.010	0.083	0.109
Buffalo	40372	0.008	0.071	0.088
N.Y. Jets	39835	0.009	0.077	0.105
Jacksonville	39621	0.008	0.065	0.091