Automatic First Downs

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 (210), Defensive Holding (124), Roughing the Passer (100), Illegal Contact (70), Face Mask (15 Yards) (68), Personal Foul (42), Illegal Use of Hands (42), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (23), Horse Collar Tackle (16), Taunting (2), Tripping (1), and Clipping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Games	Total	1st Down	2nd Down	3rd Down	4th Down	3rd & Long	Desperation	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
New Orleans	18	0.889	0.222	0.111	0.556	0.000	0.222	0.111	7.278	9.611
Buffalo	16	1.625	0.813	0.500	0.313	0.000	0.188	0.125	13.438	24.188
Chicago	16	1.063	0.375	0.313	0.375	0.000	0.188	0.125	9.938	9.313
St. Louis	16	1.563	0.688	0.438	0.375	0.063	0.250	0.000	11.813	16.500
San Francisco	18	1.222	0.444	0.278	0.500	0.000	0.222	0.111	10.500	13.333
San Diego	16	1.188	0.188	0.625	0.313	0.063	0.250	0.125	10.250	13.563
Cincinnati	17	1.588	0.588	0.647	0.353	0.000	0.235	0.059	13.059	22.647
Cleveland	16	1.250	0.375	0.563	0.313	0.000	0.250	0.063	9.750	13.688
Washington	16	1.438	0.500	0.375	0.563	0.000	0.438	0.188	13.313	14.313
Minnesota	16	1.000	0.375	0.250	0.313	0.063	0.188	0.063	8.313	12.625
Green Bay	17	1.647	0.412	0.471	0.765	0.000	0.412	0.294	13.471	18.059
Pittsburgh	17	1.353	0.647	0.294	0.412	0.000	0.353	0.176	13.176	14.706
Denver	18	1.333	0.611	0.444	0.278	0.000	0.278	0.222	13.667	17.778
Miami	16	1.375	0.438	0.250	0.688	0.000	0.375	0.250	9.688	17.375
N.Y. Giants	20	1.400	0.750	0.200	0.350	0.050	0.300	0.100	12.950	18.200
Jacksonville	16	1.125	0.375	0.375	0.313	0.063	0.250	0.250	11.250	13.250
Oakland	16	1.875	1.063	0.500	0.313	0.000	0.250	0.188	19.000	17.500
N.Y. Jets	16	1.875	0.688	0.563	0.563	0.063	0.375	0.188	15.750	22.750
Baltimore	18	1.444	0.556	0.333	0.556	0.000	0.278	0.222	10.889	22.111
Arizona	16	1.625	0.563	0.375	0.625	0.063	0.375	0.063	14.438	15.938
Dallas	16	0.938	0.313	0.438	0.188	0.000	0.125	0.063	8.688	8.750
Indianapolis	16	1.125	0.375	0.375	0.375	0.000	0.125	0.000	8.625	16.313
Tennessee	16	1.000	0.313	0.063	0.563	0.063	0.438	0.313	9.188	10.938
Houston	18	0.500	0.222	0.167	0.056	0.056	0.056	0.111	5.278	5.111
Kansas City	16	1.375	0.438	0.438	0.438	0.063	0.250	0.125	12.250	13.000
Carolina	16	1.625	0.438	0.500	0.625	0.063	0.125	0.125	12.563	16.938
New England	19	1.368	0.526	0.474	0.316	0.053	0.263	0.211	13.895	12.737
Detroit	17	1.412	0.588	0.235	0.529	0.059	0.235	0.235	13.118	16.824
Atlanta	17	1.529	0.647	0.471	0.353	0.059	0.294	0.118	11.294	15.235
Tampa Bay	16	0.938	0.375	0.313	0.125	0.063	0.000	0.000	6.250	10.688
Seattle	16	1.000	0.313	0.250	0.438	0.000	0.250	0.188	9.625	14.625
Philadelphia	16	1.250	0.625	0.375	0.250	0.000	0.125	0.063	11.313	12.875