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 (233), Defensive Holding (217), Roughing the Passer (93), Illegal Contact (67), Face Mask (61), Illegal Use of Hands (46), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (19), Horse Collar Tackle (9), Taunting (7), and Tripping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
N.Y. Jets	1093	0.017	0.147	0.253
Kansas City	1287	0.023	0.168	0.303
Seattle	1180	0.018	0.130	0.175
Denver	1078	0.029	0.251	0.327
LA Chargers	1072	0.023	0.208	0.214
N.Y. Giants	1203	0.029	0.249	0.263
Arizona	1074	0.012	0.098	0.157
Washington	997	0.023	0.209	0.318
Indianapolis	1090	0.024	0.205	0.296
Philadelphia	1218	0.015	0.108	0.108
Pittsburgh	1024	0.019	0.148	0.158
Cincinnati	1189	0.019	0.158	0.161
Cleveland	1040	0.025	0.200	0.276
Carolina	1103	0.017	0.157	0.211
New Orleans	1073	0.032	0.279	0.342
Tampa Bay	1141	0.018	0.143	0.188
Miami	1156	0.028	0.213	0.286
LA Rams	1049	0.017	0.133	0.173
San Francisco	1219	0.021	0.184	0.195
Houston	1134	0.019	0.132	0.170
Tennessee	1100	0.024	0.212	0.296
Detroit	1076	0.027	0.264	0.258
Green Bay	990	0.017	0.152	0.153
Chicago	1041	0.021	0.159	0.305
Buffalo	1136	0.024	0.210	0.242
New England	1091	0.021	0.167	0.240
Minnesota	1184	0.017	0.146	0.173
Baltimore	1101	0.025	0.176	0.251
Jacksonville	1242	0.019	0.148	0.181
Dallas	1243	0.021	0.182	0.191
Las Vegas	1076	0.020	0.164	0.218
Atlanta	1081	0.010	0.079	0.127