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 (3572), Defensive Holding (2647), Roughing the Passer (1470), Illegal Contact (838), Illegal Use of Hands (772), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (311), Personal Foul (237), Horse Collar Tackle (228), Taunting (118), Face Mask (74), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (32), Lowering the Head to Make Forcible Contact (2), Roughing the Kicker (1), and Clipping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Atlanta	40610	0.010	0.082	0.102
Cleveland	39787	0.008	0.067	0.085
Minnesota	40776	0.009	0.069	0.100
Tampa Bay	40497	0.009	0.075	0.105
Green Bay	42586	0.010	0.079	0.116
Jacksonville	40094	0.009	0.073	0.094
Houston	41358	0.008	0.067	0.086
Seattle	42399	0.008	0.066	0.091
Denver	41917	0.009	0.076	0.103
Baltimore	42682	0.008	0.067	0.103
LA Chargers	39947	0.009	0.081	0.097
N.Y. Giants	40731	0.008	0.070	0.087
Cincinnati	41247	0.009	0.074	0.095
Detroit	40205	0.009	0.076	0.095
New England	44326	0.010	0.081	0.106
Arizona	40803	0.010	0.082	0.108
Kansas City	42830	0.009	0.074	0.081
Dallas	41067	0.008	0.070	0.085
San Francisco	41736	0.008	0.065	0.084
Pittsburgh	40922	0.009	0.075	0.112
Buffalo	40795	0.007	0.065	0.090
Washington	39513	0.008	0.068	0.084
Las Vegas	39739	0.008	0.071	0.105
N.Y. Jets	40304	0.008	0.067	0.090
New Orleans	42276	0.007	0.059	0.075
Philadelphia	42337	0.008	0.071	0.099
Chicago	39415	0.008	0.072	0.094
Indianapolis	41848	0.009	0.080	0.114
LA Rams	40571	0.007	0.059	0.080
Miami	39580	0.008	0.070	0.098
Tennessee	40154	0.008	0.067	0.085
Carolina	40030	0.008	0.067	0.084