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 (289), Defensive Holding (211), Roughing the Passer (89), Face Mask (15 Yards) (63), Illegal Use of Hands (56), Illegal Contact (48), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (22), Horse Collar Tackle (16), and Taunting (7)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Carolina	1035	0.011	0.094	0.126
Atlanta	1271	0.020	0.159	0.213
Houston	1086	0.027	0.233	0.428
Jacksonville	1030	0.024	0.219	0.310
Green Bay	1181	0.019	0.158	0.196
Cincinnati	1038	0.024	0.195	0.190
N.Y. Jets	1000	0.024	0.203	0.311
Philadelphia	977	0.025	0.201	0.279
Kansas City	1128	0.021	0.183	0.211
Pittsburgh	1179	0.023	0.203	0.306
LA Rams	1038	0.027	0.265	0.290
Tennessee	1030	0.026	0.258	0.315
Detroit	1035	0.023	0.174	0.287
New England	1177	0.019	0.157	0.202
New Orleans	1008	0.023	0.144	0.304
Washington	1050	0.030	0.245	0.312
Arizona	1017	0.025	0.205	0.281
Seattle	1138	0.025	0.221	0.242
San Diego	1025	0.022	0.172	0.176
Minnesota	993	0.028	0.213	0.317
Denver	1074	0.027	0.223	0.272
N.Y. Giants	1132	0.021	0.191	0.308
Tampa Bay	1013	0.017	0.136	0.192
Oakland	1055	0.030	0.257	0.300
Cleveland	1067	0.018	0.151	0.176
Dallas	1071	0.021	0.191	0.215
San Francisco	1101	0.019	0.176	0.193
Chicago	1012	0.033	0.240	0.380
Baltimore	993	0.024	0.221	0.251
Indianapolis	1023	0.026	0.201	0.273
Miami	1143	0.029	0.210	0.312
Buffalo	1020	0.023	0.213	0.258