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 (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	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Green Bay	1110	0.012	0.087	0.119
Kansas City	991	0.018	0.169	0.200
Atlanta	1028	0.015	0.119	0.137
Philadelphia	983	0.025	0.184	0.264
Seattle	1049	0.030	0.224	0.250
Minnesota	1026	0.019	0.204	0.237
Cleveland	1036	0.023	0.183	0.255
Cincinnati	1066	0.016	0.128	0.229
Oakland	1068	0.044	0.426	0.484
Indianapolis	1062	0.009	0.075	0.069
Arizona	1095	0.033	0.300	0.385
Tampa Bay	1001	0.028	0.223	0.250
Carolina	972	0.021	0.172	0.278
Dallas	972	0.023	0.177	0.239
New England	1276	0.016	0.127	0.242
Denver	1194	0.022	0.218	0.244
Houston	1088	0.026	0.230	0.355
St. Louis	1031	0.020	0.194	0.244
Miami	1044	0.022	0.216	0.295
N.Y. Jets	993	0.019	0.182	0.212
Baltimore	1133	0.019	0.179	0.196
Washington	987	0.015	0.152	0.245
Tennessee	1080	0.015	0.133	0.176
New Orleans	1131	0.023	0.216	0.214
San Diego	958	0.021	0.183	0.209
Pittsburgh	1019	0.021	0.178	0.202
Buffalo	1002	0.020	0.159	0.229
N.Y. Giants	1328	0.016	0.145	0.172
San Francisco	1144	0.015	0.133	0.253
Detroit	1136	0.030	0.206	0.328
Jacksonville	979	0.013	0.123	0.213
Chicago	1048	0.011	0.078	0.135