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	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Atlanta	45453	0.010	0.080	0.101
Cleveland	44857	0.008	0.069	0.087
Minnesota	45665	0.009	0.074	0.106
Tampa Bay	45885	0.009	0.078	0.107
Green Bay	47694	0.009	0.077	0.115
Jacksonville	44875	0.009	0.073	0.096
Houston	46601	0.008	0.067	0.086
Seattle	47123	0.008	0.068	0.094
Denver	46823	0.009	0.074	0.101
Baltimore	47931	0.008	0.068	0.101
LA Chargers	44840	0.009	0.080	0.097
N.Y. Giants	45496	0.008	0.069	0.088
Cincinnati	46177	0.009	0.076	0.098
Detroit	45468	0.009	0.074	0.092
New England	48999	0.009	0.079	0.102
Arizona	45482	0.010	0.082	0.107
Kansas City	48154	0.009	0.077	0.084
Dallas	46048	0.009	0.074	0.090
San Francisco	46825	0.008	0.066	0.083
Pittsburgh	46078	0.009	0.075	0.112
Buffalo	45949	0.008	0.067	0.090
Washington	44507	0.008	0.070	0.086
Las Vegas	44654	0.008	0.071	0.102
N.Y. Jets	45033	0.008	0.067	0.091
New Orleans	47112	0.007	0.059	0.075
Philadelphia	47585	0.008	0.071	0.096
Chicago	44128	0.008	0.071	0.091
Indianapolis	46735	0.009	0.081	0.115
LA Rams	45774	0.008	0.063	0.086
Miami	44403	0.008	0.069	0.096
Tennessee	44799	0.009	0.070	0.087
Carolina	44775	0.008	0.068	0.085