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 (3931), Defensive Holding (2883), Roughing the Passer (1606), Illegal Contact (938), Illegal Use of Hands (834), Face Mask (15 Yards) (771), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (321), Horse Collar Tackle (242), Personal Foul (237), Face Mask (152), Taunting (125), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (70), Tripping (33), 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	44065	0.010	0.080	0.100
Cleveland	43439	0.008	0.068	0.086
Minnesota	43968	0.009	0.072	0.104
Tampa Bay	44361	0.009	0.077	0.107
Green Bay	46243	0.010	0.078	0.115
Jacksonville	43487	0.009	0.074	0.097
Houston	45072	0.008	0.067	0.086
Seattle	45786	0.008	0.068	0.094
Denver	45272	0.009	0.075	0.103
Baltimore	46430	0.008	0.067	0.102
LA Chargers	43160	0.009	0.079	0.095
N.Y. Giants	44125	0.008	0.068	0.085
Cincinnati	44738	0.009	0.074	0.095
Detroit	43923	0.009	0.075	0.094
New England	47630	0.009	0.079	0.103
Arizona	44118	0.010	0.082	0.106
Kansas City	46624	0.009	0.077	0.083
Dallas	44481	0.009	0.074	0.090
San Francisco	45500	0.008	0.066	0.084
Pittsburgh	44537	0.009	0.075	0.112
Buffalo	44444	0.008	0.066	0.089
Washington	42927	0.008	0.068	0.084
Las Vegas	43239	0.008	0.072	0.103
N.Y. Jets	43690	0.008	0.066	0.090
New Orleans	45720	0.007	0.060	0.075
Philadelphia	45904	0.008	0.070	0.096
Chicago	42633	0.008	0.072	0.093
Indianapolis	45328	0.009	0.081	0.114
LA Rams	44107	0.007	0.062	0.086
Miami	42877	0.008	0.069	0.096
Tennessee	43307	0.008	0.069	0.087
Carolina	43335	0.008	0.068	0.084