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 (308), Defensive Holding (165), Roughing the Passer (154), Face Mask (15 Yards) (53), Illegal Use of Hands (52), Illegal Contact (28), Taunting (26), Horse Collar Tackle (15), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (13), and Tripping (2)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Tampa Bay	1224	0.029	0.257	0.369
Jacksonville	1067	0.018	0.120	0.191
Buffalo	1147	0.033	0.267	0.326
Carolina	1028	0.022	0.218	0.273
Philadelphia	1148	0.024	0.186	0.226
Minnesota	1152	0.028	0.240	0.332
Tennessee	1103	0.027	0.221	0.361
San Francisco	1229	0.032	0.282	0.461
Seattle	1200	0.023	0.179	0.235
LA Chargers	1102	0.033	0.272	0.397
Washington	1065	0.022	0.162	0.292
Denver	1039	0.016	0.122	0.186
New Orleans	1064	0.023	0.182	0.194
Baltimore	1032	0.023	0.172	0.245
N.Y. Giants	1137	0.012	0.089	0.115
New England	1091	0.017	0.166	0.251
Cincinnati	1331	0.020	0.167	0.221
Cleveland	1054	0.026	0.212	0.397
Dallas	1144	0.024	0.194	0.260
Atlanta	1112	0.020	0.157	0.235
Detroit	1092	0.021	0.190	0.253
Houston	1100	0.021	0.199	0.250
Indianapolis	1049	0.014	0.115	0.212
Kansas City	1253	0.023	0.197	0.217
N.Y. Jets	1142	0.026	0.212	0.283
Las Vegas	1162	0.027	0.240	0.297
Green Bay	1088	0.019	0.162	0.267
Chicago	1008	0.025	0.191	0.317
Arizona	1083	0.026	0.214	0.283
LA Rams	1352	0.014	0.119	0.169
Miami	1081	0.021	0.191	0.204
Pittsburgh	1180	0.015	0.136	0.169