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 (278), Defensive Holding (183), Roughing the Passer (99), Illegal Contact (90), Face Mask (67), Illegal Use of Hands (46), Horse Collar Tackle (12), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (9), Taunting (5), Lowering the Head to Make Forcible Contact (4), and Tripping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Detroit	1199	0.028	0.213	0.259
Atlanta	1080	0.027	0.251	0.285
Cleveland	1030	0.021	0.174	0.250
Tampa Bay	1191	0.024	0.207	0.212
New Orleans	1032	0.030	0.256	0.364
San Francisco	1225	0.022	0.179	0.299
Houston	1200	0.022	0.143	0.244
Arizona	1048	0.026	0.231	0.288
Las Vegas	1074	0.018	0.149	0.180
Denver	1067	0.019	0.157	0.187
LA Chargers	1102	0.021	0.208	0.266
Miami	1115	0.020	0.170	0.185
LA Rams	1121	0.024	0.209	0.194
N.Y. Giants	1073	0.021	0.194	0.209
Green Bay	1202	0.022	0.168	0.218
Baltimore	1211	0.028	0.234	0.343
Seattle	1134	0.026	0.213	0.300
Kansas City	1297	0.019	0.153	0.199
N.Y. Jets	1070	0.027	0.257	0.218
Dallas	1047	0.027	0.231	0.274
Carolina	1008	0.018	0.161	0.214
Tennessee	1089	0.035	0.298	0.371
New England	1080	0.016	0.113	0.122
Pittsburgh	1124	0.026	0.208	0.237
Philadelphia	1164	0.025	0.236	0.308
Indianapolis	1117	0.017	0.137	0.137
Washington	1109	0.021	0.163	0.212
Chicago	1013	0.021	0.187	0.281
Buffalo	1101	0.027	0.221	0.242
Minnesota	1082	0.012	0.115	0.140
Cincinnati	1038	0.019	0.177	0.222
Jacksonville	1060	0.009	0.079	0.113