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 (4058), Defensive Holding (2950), Roughing the Passer (1636), Illegal Contact (963), Illegal Use of Hands (855), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (328), Horse Collar Tackle (250), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (176), Taunting (125), 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	43931	0.009	0.072	0.097
Minnesota	45053	0.008	0.069	0.091
Cleveland	44411	0.009	0.071	0.102
Dallas	45584	0.009	0.075	0.091
Carolina	44286	0.008	0.064	0.087
Cincinnati	45710	0.008	0.067	0.087
Arizona	44998	0.009	0.075	0.095
Tennessee	44361	0.009	0.076	0.102
San Francisco	46342	0.009	0.073	0.095
LA Chargers	44381	0.008	0.070	0.088
Baltimore	47502	0.010	0.082	0.107
Pittsburgh	45622	0.008	0.067	0.093
Washington	43878	0.008	0.066	0.091
Atlanta	44969	0.007	0.062	0.082
N.Y. Giants	45045	0.007	0.063	0.085
Las Vegas	44189	0.010	0.090	0.114
Indianapolis	46242	0.007	0.059	0.080
Chicago	43698	0.007	0.058	0.091
Denver	46386	0.009	0.079	0.100
LA Rams	45197	0.008	0.070	0.091
Green Bay	47101	0.007	0.060	0.079
Philadelphia	46980	0.008	0.071	0.090
Houston	46163	0.009	0.077	0.108
Kansas City	47865	0.009	0.074	0.096
Seattle	46689	0.009	0.075	0.101
Detroit	45007	0.010	0.086	0.108
New England	48544	0.008	0.066	0.090
Tampa Bay	45286	0.008	0.071	0.087
New Orleans	46654	0.010	0.086	0.116
Buffalo	45366	0.009	0.076	0.094
N.Y. Jets	44600	0.010	0.084	0.113
Jacksonville	44394	0.008	0.070	0.097