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 (3968), Defensive Holding (2917), Roughing the Passer (1615), Illegal Contact (953), Illegal Use of Hands (844), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (324), Horse Collar Tackle (245), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (167), Taunting (125), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (34), 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	43325	0.009	0.072	0.097
Minnesota	44406	0.008	0.069	0.091
Cleveland	43757	0.009	0.071	0.102
Dallas	44955	0.009	0.075	0.091
Carolina	43653	0.008	0.064	0.087
Cincinnati	45248	0.008	0.066	0.086
Arizona	44405	0.009	0.076	0.095
Tennessee	43756	0.009	0.076	0.101
San Francisco	45787	0.009	0.074	0.096
LA Chargers	43636	0.008	0.069	0.088
Baltimore	46901	0.010	0.082	0.106
Pittsburgh	44863	0.008	0.067	0.092
Washington	43400	0.008	0.065	0.090
Atlanta	44518	0.007	0.062	0.081
N.Y. Giants	44432	0.007	0.063	0.084
Las Vegas	43557	0.010	0.091	0.114
Indianapolis	45782	0.007	0.059	0.080
Chicago	43069	0.007	0.057	0.089
Denver	45709	0.009	0.079	0.099
LA Rams	44588	0.008	0.070	0.091
Green Bay	46516	0.007	0.060	0.080
Philadelphia	46370	0.008	0.071	0.090
Houston	45556	0.009	0.076	0.108
Kansas City	47083	0.009	0.074	0.095
Seattle	46100	0.009	0.075	0.100
Detroit	44374	0.010	0.085	0.108
New England	48097	0.008	0.066	0.089
Tampa Bay	44674	0.008	0.071	0.087
New Orleans	46184	0.010	0.086	0.117
Buffalo	44895	0.009	0.076	0.094
N.Y. Jets	44132	0.010	0.084	0.111
Jacksonville	43936	0.008	0.069	0.097