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	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Atlanta	44969	0.010	0.080	0.100
Cleveland	44411	0.008	0.068	0.086
Minnesota	45053	0.009	0.073	0.106
Tampa Bay	45286	0.009	0.078	0.108
Green Bay	47101	0.010	0.078	0.116
Jacksonville	44394	0.009	0.074	0.096
Houston	46163	0.008	0.067	0.085
Seattle	46689	0.008	0.068	0.095
Denver	46386	0.009	0.075	0.102
Baltimore	47502	0.008	0.068	0.101
LA Chargers	44381	0.009	0.080	0.097
N.Y. Giants	45045	0.008	0.069	0.088
Cincinnati	45710	0.009	0.075	0.098
Detroit	45007	0.009	0.074	0.093
New England	48544	0.009	0.078	0.102
Arizona	44998	0.010	0.082	0.106
Kansas City	47865	0.009	0.077	0.084
Dallas	45584	0.009	0.074	0.090
San Francisco	46342	0.008	0.066	0.083
Pittsburgh	45622	0.009	0.075	0.112
Buffalo	45366	0.008	0.067	0.090
Washington	43878	0.008	0.069	0.086
Las Vegas	44189	0.008	0.071	0.103
N.Y. Jets	44600	0.008	0.067	0.092
New Orleans	46654	0.007	0.059	0.075
Philadelphia	46980	0.008	0.070	0.095
Chicago	43698	0.008	0.071	0.091
Indianapolis	46242	0.009	0.081	0.114
LA Rams	45197	0.008	0.063	0.086
Miami	43931	0.008	0.070	0.096
Tennessee	44361	0.008	0.070	0.087
Carolina	44286	0.008	0.068	0.085