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 (243), Defensive Holding (219), Roughing the Passer (102), Illegal Use of Hands (80), Face Mask (15 Yards) (67), Illegal Contact (62), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (39), Horse Collar Tackle (12), Taunting (9), Personal Foul (4), and Tripping (4)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Pittsburgh	1193	0.022	0.203	0.276
New England	1190	0.022	0.155	0.230
Chicago	981	0.017	0.140	0.267
Miami	1077	0.027	0.202	0.300
Washington	1079	0.017	0.159	0.180
Kansas City	1155	0.027	0.204	0.287
New Orleans	995	0.044	0.360	0.439
Denver	1245	0.033	0.289	0.395
Tampa Bay	1046	0.024	0.207	0.242
N.Y. Giants	1105	0.019	0.152	0.184
Philadelphia	1148	0.019	0.152	0.193
Buffalo	1017	0.030	0.269	0.321
Atlanta	996	0.024	0.196	0.324
Arizona	1115	0.022	0.213	0.216
Minnesota	1071	0.032	0.275	0.367
Baltimore	1000	0.032	0.278	0.376
Oakland	1085	0.037	0.284	0.362
Dallas	997	0.026	0.221	0.230
Seattle	1068	0.021	0.199	0.265
N.Y. Jets	1013	0.019	0.159	0.208
San Diego	960	0.021	0.181	0.210
St. Louis	1091	0.019	0.181	0.227
Jacksonville	1102	0.028	0.210	0.313
Indianapolis	1072	0.028	0.227	0.305
Cleveland	998	0.025	0.234	0.385
Houston	1048	0.025	0.225	0.280
Green Bay	1147	0.013	0.093	0.160
San Francisco	1081	0.023	0.187	0.159
Detroit	999	0.025	0.238	0.289
Carolina	1239	0.019	0.147	0.204
Cincinnati	1101	0.024	0.212	0.230
Tennessee	1003	0.021	0.222	0.166