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 (172), Defensive Holding (116), Roughing the Passer (64), Face Mask (39), Illegal Contact (36), Illegal Use of Hands (34), Horse Collar Tackle (7), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (5), Taunting (3), and Tripping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Kansas City	579	0.026	0.207	0.285
Philadelphia	574	0.021	0.160	0.233
New England	675	0.027	0.219	0.280
Miami	577	0.023	0.192	0.286
Jacksonville	734	0.025	0.240	0.207
N.Y. Giants	589	0.015	0.139	0.200
Minnesota	595	0.024	0.185	0.237
Arizona	626	0.016	0.128	0.209
Carolina	661	0.024	0.206	0.309
New Orleans	695	0.024	0.190	0.322
Denver	676	0.037	0.317	0.438
Washington	656	0.023	0.184	0.255
Tampa Bay	657	0.023	0.170	0.178
Detroit	600	0.047	0.427	0.557
Baltimore	711	0.039	0.354	0.383
Dallas	613	0.018	0.155	0.140
Seattle	631	0.032	0.257	0.279
Cincinnati	709	0.023	0.213	0.269
Houston	649	0.028	0.274	0.302
N.Y. Jets	686	0.035	0.312	0.429
Indianapolis	727	0.018	0.153	0.147
Las Vegas	613	0.020	0.184	0.204
LA Rams	615	0.021	0.187	0.234
San Francisco	581	0.021	0.170	0.287
Buffalo	656	0.014	0.101	0.090
Pittsburgh	574	0.016	0.146	0.166
Green Bay	602	0.018	0.143	0.133
Chicago	575	0.007	0.063	0.064
Cleveland	593	0.013	0.120	0.170
Tennessee	574	0.038	0.382	0.366
Atlanta	694	0.014	0.112	0.114
LA Chargers	600	0.020	0.137	0.185