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 (253), Defensive Holding (149), Roughing the Passer (90), Illegal Contact (68), Face Mask (15 Yards) (53), Personal Foul (51), Illegal Use of Hands (50), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (21), Horse Collar Tackle (19), Tripping (2), and Taunting (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Indianapolis	1050	0.027	0.196	0.277
Chicago	1021	0.017	0.151	0.169
Buffalo	1042	0.026	0.216	0.283
Miami	1073	0.022	0.159	0.257
Houston	1127	0.026	0.206	0.274
Pittsburgh	951	0.024	0.209	0.430
New England	1192	0.023	0.204	0.306
Kansas City	973	0.016	0.141	0.187
San Diego	1013	0.025	0.220	0.257
Minnesota	1150	0.020	0.176	0.251
Detroit	997	0.024	0.212	0.345
Carolina	1009	0.023	0.172	0.281
N.Y. Jets	1020	0.027	0.215	0.305
Arizona	1041	0.016	0.129	0.207
Jacksonville	1100	0.029	0.214	0.359
Tampa Bay	1031	0.020	0.214	0.228
Philadelphia	994	0.026	0.245	0.212
Green Bay	1169	0.023	0.191	0.289
Cleveland	1094	0.027	0.220	0.319
Cincinnati	1110	0.022	0.183	0.259
Baltimore	1402	0.024	0.211	0.267
Denver	1089	0.027	0.218	0.296
New Orleans	1055	0.027	0.263	0.285
Washington	1098	0.022	0.195	0.250
San Francisco	1189	0.024	0.214	0.246
Seattle	1083	0.021	0.173	0.207
Oakland	966	0.019	0.163	0.240
N.Y. Giants	1016	0.012	0.094	0.094
Dallas	986	0.024	0.203	0.224
Tennessee	1086	0.017	0.158	0.182
St. Louis	1040	0.017	0.131	0.182
Atlanta	1105	0.008	0.071	0.079