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 (3875), Defensive Holding (2853), Roughing the Passer (1588), Illegal Contact (930), Illegal Use of Hands (826), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (320), Horse Collar Tackle (242), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (144), Taunting (124), 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	43592	0.010	0.081	0.101
Cleveland	42977	0.008	0.068	0.086
Minnesota	43686	0.009	0.072	0.104
Tampa Bay	43861	0.009	0.077	0.107
Green Bay	45788	0.010	0.078	0.114
Jacksonville	43043	0.009	0.075	0.098
Houston	44601	0.008	0.068	0.086
Seattle	45324	0.008	0.068	0.094
Denver	44801	0.009	0.075	0.103
Baltimore	45956	0.008	0.066	0.101
LA Chargers	42695	0.009	0.079	0.095
N.Y. Giants	43660	0.008	0.068	0.085
Cincinnati	44287	0.009	0.074	0.096
Detroit	43470	0.009	0.075	0.094
New England	47184	0.009	0.078	0.103
Arizona	43670	0.010	0.082	0.106
Kansas City	46170	0.009	0.077	0.083
Dallas	44166	0.009	0.073	0.089
San Francisco	45030	0.008	0.065	0.083
Pittsburgh	44073	0.009	0.075	0.112
Buffalo	44008	0.007	0.065	0.088
Washington	42480	0.008	0.068	0.084
Las Vegas	42784	0.008	0.072	0.104
N.Y. Jets	43243	0.008	0.066	0.090
New Orleans	45064	0.007	0.060	0.075
Philadelphia	45465	0.008	0.071	0.097
Chicago	42323	0.008	0.072	0.093
Indianapolis	44855	0.009	0.081	0.114
LA Rams	43809	0.007	0.061	0.085
Miami	42565	0.008	0.070	0.097
Tennessee	42857	0.008	0.068	0.086
Carolina	42885	0.008	0.068	0.084