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	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Atlanta	44518	0.010	0.080	0.101
Cleveland	43757	0.008	0.068	0.085
Minnesota	44406	0.009	0.073	0.104
Tampa Bay	44674	0.009	0.078	0.107
Green Bay	46516	0.010	0.078	0.115
Jacksonville	43936	0.009	0.074	0.097
Houston	45556	0.008	0.068	0.086
Seattle	46100	0.008	0.068	0.094
Denver	45709	0.009	0.075	0.102
Baltimore	46901	0.008	0.068	0.101
LA Chargers	43636	0.009	0.080	0.095
N.Y. Giants	44432	0.008	0.069	0.087
Cincinnati	45248	0.009	0.075	0.096
Detroit	44374	0.009	0.075	0.094
New England	48097	0.009	0.079	0.103
Arizona	44405	0.010	0.082	0.106
Kansas City	47083	0.009	0.076	0.083
Dallas	44955	0.009	0.074	0.089
San Francisco	45787	0.008	0.066	0.084
Pittsburgh	44863	0.009	0.075	0.112
Buffalo	44895	0.008	0.066	0.090
Washington	43400	0.008	0.069	0.086
Las Vegas	43557	0.008	0.072	0.104
N.Y. Jets	44132	0.008	0.066	0.090
New Orleans	46184	0.007	0.059	0.074
Philadelphia	46370	0.008	0.071	0.096
Chicago	43069	0.008	0.072	0.092
Indianapolis	45782	0.009	0.081	0.114
LA Rams	44588	0.008	0.063	0.086
Miami	43325	0.008	0.069	0.096
Tennessee	43756	0.008	0.069	0.086
Carolina	43653	0.008	0.068	0.084