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 (247), Defensive Holding (175), Roughing the Passer (89), Face Mask (15 Yards) (54), Personal Foul (45), Illegal Use of Hands (40), Illegal Contact (38), Horse Collar Tackle (26), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (25), Taunting (16), and Tripping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
St. Louis	1014	0.035	0.309	0.332
Seattle	1175	0.031	0.280	0.406
Houston	969	0.030	0.230	0.501
Denver	1234	0.029	0.254	0.285
Buffalo	1089	0.028	0.274	0.303
Arizona	1042	0.026	0.211	0.282
Carolina	1039	0.026	0.206	0.227
Dallas	1094	0.025	0.214	0.253
Detroit	982	0.025	0.198	0.288
Tampa Bay	1020	0.025	0.230	0.326
Oakland	1030	0.023	0.200	0.250
Atlanta	1003	0.023	0.193	0.240
Tennessee	1027	0.023	0.179	0.272
Kansas City	1132	0.023	0.196	0.211
Indianapolis	1179	0.023	0.158	0.229
Cincinnati	1099	0.022	0.187	0.317
Cleveland	1107	0.021	0.162	0.283
Baltimore	1031	0.021	0.176	0.206
Washington	993	0.021	0.178	0.204
N.Y. Jets	1047	0.020	0.163	0.234
Jacksonville	1090	0.020	0.185	0.248
San Diego	1109	0.019	0.151	0.213
Chicago	1021	0.018	0.129	0.199
Philadelphia	1217	0.018	0.154	0.226
San Francisco	1193	0.018	0.128	0.205
Pittsburgh	1020	0.017	0.120	0.176
Miami	1088	0.017	0.152	0.222
New Orleans	1056	0.017	0.153	0.203
N.Y. Giants	1088	0.016	0.109	0.202
New England	1253	0.014	0.105	0.164
Green Bay	1078	0.014	0.087	0.169
Minnesota	1132	0.013	0.133	0.229