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 (3877), Defensive Holding (2854), 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 (146), 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	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Miami	42565	0.009	0.072	0.098
Minnesota	43686	0.008	0.069	0.091
Cleveland	42977	0.009	0.072	0.103
Dallas	44166	0.009	0.075	0.092
Carolina	42885	0.008	0.064	0.086
Cincinnati	44287	0.008	0.066	0.085
Arizona	43670	0.009	0.076	0.095
Tennessee	42857	0.008	0.073	0.099
San Francisco	45197	0.009	0.073	0.095
LA Chargers	42695	0.008	0.070	0.089
Baltimore	45956	0.009	0.081	0.105
Pittsburgh	44073	0.008	0.067	0.092
Washington	42480	0.008	0.065	0.089
Atlanta	43592	0.007	0.062	0.081
N.Y. Giants	43660	0.007	0.063	0.085
Las Vegas	42784	0.010	0.090	0.114
Indianapolis	44855	0.007	0.060	0.081
Chicago	42323	0.007	0.058	0.091
Denver	44801	0.009	0.078	0.099
LA Rams	43809	0.008	0.071	0.091
Green Bay	45788	0.007	0.060	0.081
Philadelphia	45465	0.008	0.071	0.090
Houston	44601	0.009	0.076	0.109
Kansas City	46326	0.009	0.074	0.095
Seattle	45491	0.009	0.074	0.100
Detroit	43470	0.010	0.084	0.108
New England	47184	0.008	0.065	0.089
Tampa Bay	43861	0.008	0.071	0.087
New Orleans	45220	0.010	0.087	0.116
Buffalo	44008	0.009	0.076	0.095
N.Y. Jets	43243	0.010	0.083	0.110
Jacksonville	43043	0.008	0.069	0.097