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 (276), Defensive Holding (247), Roughing the Passer (107), Illegal Use of Hands (74), Face Mask (15 Yards) (59), Illegal Contact (32), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (31), Horse Collar Tackle (16), Taunting (9), and Tripping (4)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Kansas City	1108	0.034	0.269	0.385
New England	1224	0.017	0.143	0.206
N.Y. Jets	1052	0.039	0.284	0.390
Cincinnati	1091	0.030	0.225	0.379
Pittsburgh	1001	0.019	0.142	0.218
Cleveland	1026	0.022	0.150	0.269
Tennessee	1178	0.020	0.179	0.222
Houston	973	0.036	0.310	0.408
Jacksonville	1206	0.022	0.197	0.282
Detroit	1037	0.024	0.222	0.301
Seattle	1044	0.038	0.335	0.442
San Francisco	1066	0.028	0.248	0.280
N.Y. Giants	1052	0.018	0.159	0.326
Denver	951	0.027	0.210	0.270
Buffalo	1124	0.021	0.178	0.231
Minnesota	1086	0.028	0.226	0.331
Miami	989	0.029	0.230	0.280
Dallas	1000	0.029	0.253	0.370
LA Rams	1093	0.024	0.176	0.252
Atlanta	1121	0.022	0.203	0.273
Baltimore	1045	0.025	0.217	0.275
Chicago	1003	0.025	0.182	0.252
Indianapolis	1026	0.026	0.231	0.276
Philadelphia	1174	0.027	0.208	0.263
Green Bay	1015	0.017	0.115	0.200
Washington	1043	0.023	0.195	0.231
Carolina	1009	0.023	0.217	0.226
Arizona	1007	0.019	0.165	0.181
Tampa Bay	1011	0.017	0.153	0.141
Oakland	995	0.017	0.160	0.206
New Orleans	1144	0.039	0.335	0.463
LA Chargers	997	0.020	0.169	0.249