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.

"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 (207), Defensive Holding (106), Roughing the Passer (79), Illegal Contact (75), Face Mask (15 Yards) (43), Personal Foul (36), Illegal Use of Hands (26), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (17), Horse Collar Tackle (15), Tripping (5), and Taunting (2)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Cleveland	1041	0.013	0.118	0.174
Indianapolis	1079	0.008	0.064	0.126
Denver	1056	0.016	0.122	0.270
Jacksonville	948	0.019	0.143	0.168
Oakland	991	0.034	0.337	0.455
Carolina	1059	0.022	0.184	0.280
N.Y. Giants	973	0.016	0.125	0.195
Pittsburgh	1139	0.025	0.220	0.300
Philadelphia	1060	0.025	0.236	0.304
Dallas	977	0.023	0.179	0.240
N.Y. Jets	1175	0.024	0.232	0.307
Green Bay	1205	0.022	0.193	0.221
Arizona	1092	0.022	0.205	0.226
Seattle	1234	0.012	0.098	0.175
New England	1110	0.020	0.157	0.265
New Orleans	1009	0.022	0.166	0.308
Detroit	1002	0.032	0.241	0.265
St. Louis	1018	0.021	0.173	0.259
Washington	1051	0.010	0.073	0.062
Houston	1010	0.021	0.139	0.170
San Diego	939	0.014	0.120	0.182
Miami	987	0.010	0.116	0.132
Buffalo	1071	0.015	0.120	0.120
Cincinnati	957	0.018	0.149	0.224
Baltimore	1116	0.015	0.124	0.189
Tennessee	1139	0.021	0.184	0.266
Atlanta	1026	0.014	0.085	0.197
Kansas City	1105	0.014	0.121	0.171
Chicago	1125	0.015	0.106	0.214
San Francisco	1033	0.014	0.087	0.197
Tampa Bay	991	0.013	0.105	0.160
Minnesota	977	0.011	0.090	0.127