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 (284), Defensive Holding (253), Roughing the Passer (136), Illegal Use of Hands (76), Face Mask (15 Yards) (50), Illegal Contact (38), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (24), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (19), Horse Collar Tackle (19), Taunting (4), and Tripping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Green Bay	1109	0.015	0.136	0.152
Chicago	1017	0.020	0.166	0.175
Atlanta	985	0.026	0.256	0.276
Minnesota	1175	0.021	0.189	0.262
Carolina	1042	0.024	0.196	0.266
Tennessee	1270	0.024	0.171	0.319
Indianapolis	986	0.019	0.158	0.191
Cincinnati	1034	0.017	0.143	0.177
Seattle	1133	0.024	0.199	0.289
San Francisco	1146	0.024	0.201	0.308
Tampa Bay	1073	0.030	0.246	0.366
Pittsburgh	1029	0.026	0.246	0.292
New England	1004	0.033	0.280	0.337
Oakland	962	0.043	0.388	0.476
Baltimore	975	0.035	0.319	0.339
Detroit	1094	0.027	0.229	0.235
Miami	1053	0.028	0.237	0.294
N.Y. Giants	1061	0.026	0.223	0.279
Kansas City	1233	0.032	0.294	0.363
New Orleans	1072	0.035	0.279	0.304
Dallas	1015	0.027	0.209	0.341
N.Y. Jets	1038	0.032	0.278	0.416
Houston	1158	0.026	0.234	0.318
LA Rams	1056	0.024	0.217	0.223
Washington	1079	0.023	0.170	0.183
Philadelphia	1024	0.024	0.218	0.226
LA Chargers	922	0.025	0.161	0.247
Buffalo	1051	0.029	0.226	0.266
Arizona	1080	0.024	0.198	0.244
Denver	1003	0.030	0.260	0.269
Cleveland	1014	0.032	0.272	0.397
Jacksonville	999	0.031	0.280	0.366