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	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Miami	44403	0.009	0.072	0.096
Minnesota	45665	0.008	0.069	0.092
Cleveland	44857	0.009	0.071	0.102
Dallas	46048	0.009	0.075	0.091
Carolina	44775	0.008	0.064	0.087
Cincinnati	46177	0.008	0.067	0.087
Arizona	45482	0.009	0.075	0.094
Tennessee	44799	0.009	0.076	0.101
San Francisco	46825	0.009	0.073	0.095
LA Chargers	44840	0.008	0.070	0.088
Baltimore	47931	0.010	0.082	0.108
Pittsburgh	46078	0.008	0.067	0.092
Washington	44507	0.008	0.067	0.094
Atlanta	45453	0.007	0.062	0.081
N.Y. Giants	45496	0.007	0.064	0.087
Las Vegas	44654	0.010	0.090	0.114
Indianapolis	46735	0.007	0.059	0.080
Chicago	44128	0.007	0.058	0.091
Denver	46823	0.009	0.079	0.100
LA Rams	45774	0.008	0.070	0.090
Green Bay	47694	0.007	0.059	0.079
Philadelphia	47585	0.008	0.071	0.090
Houston	46601	0.009	0.077	0.108
Kansas City	48154	0.009	0.074	0.096
Seattle	47123	0.009	0.075	0.101
Detroit	45468	0.010	0.086	0.108
New England	48999	0.008	0.066	0.090
Tampa Bay	45885	0.008	0.072	0.087
New Orleans	47112	0.010	0.085	0.115
Buffalo	45949	0.009	0.076	0.094
N.Y. Jets	45033	0.010	0.084	0.112
Jacksonville	44875	0.008	0.070	0.097