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 (249), Defensive Holding (247), Roughing the Passer (118), Face Mask (15 Yards) (67), Illegal Use of Hands (57), Illegal Contact (44), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (31), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (15), Horse Collar Tackle (12), Taunting (10), and Tripping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Atlanta	1031	0.027	0.251	0.284
Buffalo	968	0.022	0.183	0.301
Baltimore	1039	0.027	0.255	0.283
Pittsburgh	986	0.024	0.218	0.320
Indianapolis	1141	0.018	0.194	0.185
Minnesota	993	0.031	0.259	0.312
Houston	1089	0.021	0.176	0.240
New Orleans	1093	0.036	0.294	0.424
Tampa Bay	997	0.022	0.203	0.233
Jacksonville	970	0.028	0.240	0.345
Carolina	947	0.016	0.154	0.248
N.Y. Jets	1061	0.031	0.256	0.298
Detroit	942	0.033	0.307	0.305
Oakland	973	0.024	0.219	0.330
Cincinnati	1084	0.017	0.155	0.162
Cleveland	1122	0.024	0.194	0.208
Kansas City	1255	0.030	0.252	0.292
Tennessee	1001	0.015	0.133	0.157
Washington	996	0.024	0.181	0.301
San Francisco	1022	0.029	0.270	0.343
N.Y. Giants	1034	0.032	0.257	0.367
Miami	1022	0.028	0.242	0.367
Philadelphia	1136	0.018	0.136	0.200
Green Bay	1015	0.028	0.232	0.307
Chicago	1068	0.022	0.164	0.254
New England	1172	0.024	0.217	0.215
Seattle	1021	0.030	0.266	0.334
Arizona	1065	0.024	0.210	0.216
LA Chargers	1118	0.026	0.201	0.250
Dallas	1109	0.018	0.154	0.167
LA Rams	1147	0.029	0.254	0.316
Denver	1022	0.030	0.289	0.212