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Cleveland Browns: What constitutes a first down?

By Joel W. Cade

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 18: Referee Shawn Hochuli #83 signals during the second half of a game between the Detroit Lions and the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on October 18, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 18: Referee Shawn Hochuli #83 signals during the second half of a game between the Detroit Lions and the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on October 18, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns
Jan 13, 2019; Foxborough, MA, USA; Line judge Sarah Thomas (53) measures for a first down during the fourth quarter in an AFC Divisional playoff football game. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

5 will get you 1

Remember the mantra: Never bring the chains out to measure a first down. This will make sense of how NFL officials handle penalties.

On every chain used in a chain gang is a marker. The marker is placed in the middle of the chain. This marker is a reference for 5 yards. Why?

Most NFL penalties that result in a stoppage of play are penalized at a clip of 5 yards. The marker is a reference for the official to know if the line to gain is more or less than five yards. If the line to gain is less than 5 yards per the marker relative to the current ball placement on the field, it is automatically ruled a first down.

For example, it is 2nd and 5 yards to the line to gain. Then quarterback Baker Mayfield induces a neutral zone infraction (which he has greatly improved upon this year). Given that the ball is at or beyond the marker demarcating half the chain, the offense will automatically be awarded a first down without a measurement.

This is known as the 5 will get you 1 effect. Given the ball placement relative to the half chain marker on the chain, penalties will not be measured or walked off, especially if the ball is already on a clearly defined yard line.

But why would officials go to such great lengths to avoid actually using the chains? To answer this question we next look at how first downs are really measured.

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