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 Holding (226), Defensive Pass Interference (215), Illegal Contact (106), Illegal Use of Hands (104), Roughing the Passer (99), Face Mask (15 Yards) (59), Personal Foul (31), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (20), Taunting (15), Horse Collar Tackle (14), and Tripping (5)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Seattle	1130	0.027	0.211	0.283
New Orleans	1023	0.024	0.207	0.248
Atlanta	1038	0.022	0.197	0.223
Cincinnati	1137	0.028	0.244	0.259
Buffalo	1028	0.035	0.303	0.376
N.Y. Jets	976	0.026	0.225	0.286
Dallas	1110	0.032	0.254	0.282
Denver	1103	0.029	0.235	0.269
Detroit	1042	0.036	0.322	0.307
San Diego	990	0.038	0.336	0.418
Pittsburgh	1000	0.033	0.269	0.336
Minnesota	1026	0.025	0.222	0.239
New England	1212	0.040	0.358	0.370
Arizona	1086	0.028	0.263	0.246
Tennessee	1099	0.020	0.163	0.223
Jacksonville	1085	0.016	0.149	0.135
Kansas City	1024	0.016	0.131	0.158
Oakland	1041	0.029	0.220	0.301
Houston	1077	0.030	0.289	0.313
Indianapolis	1211	0.025	0.180	0.279
Baltimore	1172	0.021	0.162	0.183
Cleveland	1118	0.030	0.264	0.284
Green Bay	1175	0.023	0.170	0.217
N.Y. Giants	1007	0.021	0.206	0.243
Washington	978	0.032	0.248	0.425
St. Louis	1004	0.025	0.163	0.323
San Francisco	989	0.030	0.269	0.222
Carolina	1098	0.017	0.148	0.230
Chicago	1009	0.016	0.129	0.258
Tampa Bay	1068	0.022	0.195	0.154
Philadelphia	1113	0.028	0.266	0.310
Miami	1029	0.014	0.105	0.172