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 (4105), Defensive Holding (2980), Roughing the Passer (1650), Illegal Contact (974), Illegal Use of Hands (862), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (333), Horse Collar Tackle (252), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (190), Taunting (127), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (34), Lowering the Head to Make Forcible Contact (5), Roughing the Kicker (1), and Clipping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Games	Total	1st Down	2nd Down	3rd Down	4th Down	3rd & Long	Desperation	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Miami	263	1.468	0.506	0.422	0.494	0.034	0.297	0.148	12.198	16.270
Minnesota	270	1.341	0.485	0.374	0.441	0.041	0.281	0.144	11.663	15.478
Cleveland	263	1.452	0.487	0.483	0.437	0.038	0.289	0.163	12.163	17.373
Dallas	271	1.524	0.517	0.498	0.450	0.041	0.280	0.144	12.723	15.509
Carolina	267	1.285	0.457	0.393	0.404	0.026	0.251	0.112	10.783	14.573
Cincinnati	272	1.335	0.426	0.434	0.441	0.022	0.265	0.147	11.423	14.805
Arizona	266	1.477	0.560	0.492	0.406	0.019	0.252	0.128	12.797	16.090
Tennessee	267	1.457	0.543	0.431	0.431	0.049	0.285	0.142	12.689	17.015
San Francisco	280	1.425	0.446	0.446	0.507	0.025	0.318	0.168	12.200	15.861
LA Chargers	267	1.412	0.464	0.382	0.498	0.052	0.311	0.139	11.831	14.809
Baltimore	280	1.657	0.571	0.532	0.468	0.071	0.271	0.139	14.050	18.404
Pittsburgh	275	1.327	0.440	0.476	0.356	0.044	0.204	0.113	11.222	15.415
Washington	264	1.375	0.504	0.417	0.413	0.038	0.231	0.110	11.371	15.830
Atlanta	269	1.234	0.428	0.361	0.409	0.022	0.238	0.097	10.409	13.695
N.Y. Giants	267	1.270	0.427	0.386	0.412	0.041	0.285	0.135	10.820	14.757
Las Vegas	262	1.756	0.653	0.489	0.573	0.038	0.393	0.179	15.302	19.458
Indianapolis	273	1.267	0.432	0.399	0.407	0.018	0.227	0.099	10.165	13.681
Chicago	264	1.223	0.348	0.405	0.436	0.030	0.223	0.076	9.633	15.140
Denver	271	1.609	0.594	0.487	0.502	0.018	0.325	0.111	13.697	17.299
LA Rams	272	1.379	0.489	0.401	0.438	0.040	0.279	0.143	11.743	15.188
Green Bay	284	1.246	0.472	0.345	0.394	0.021	0.215	0.088	9.961	13.327
Philadelphia	275	1.447	0.476	0.433	0.509	0.022	0.316	0.175	12.258	15.545
Houston	273	1.568	0.498	0.542	0.487	0.037	0.297	0.147	13.092	18.443
Kansas City	284	1.500	0.546	0.394	0.511	0.035	0.296	0.158	12.482	16.194
Seattle	279	1.520	0.498	0.444	0.545	0.025	0.341	0.151	12.677	17.100
Detroit	266	1.752	0.628	0.485	0.590	0.038	0.327	0.150	14.714	18.534
New England	285	1.351	0.491	0.407	0.435	0.011	0.267	0.105	11.354	15.558
Tampa Bay	270	1.415	0.581	0.378	0.396	0.052	0.226	0.122	12.200	14.826
New Orleans	275	1.756	0.582	0.575	0.527	0.065	0.305	0.116	14.578	19.680
Buffalo	271	1.528	0.572	0.465	0.454	0.033	0.314	0.137	12.915	15.875
N.Y. Jets	266	1.695	0.590	0.455	0.575	0.056	0.365	0.199	14.267	18.992
Jacksonville	265	1.400	0.570	0.370	0.426	0.030	0.253	0.109	11.800	16.472