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 (315), Defensive Holding (180), Roughing the Passer (100), Face Mask (65), Illegal Contact (57), Illegal Use of Hands (55), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (15), Horse Collar Tackle (14), Taunting (5), Tripping (1), and Lowering the Head to Make Forcible Contact (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Kansas City	1215	0.021	0.167	0.237
Philadelphia	1234	0.020	0.153	0.216
New England	1060	0.026	0.217	0.308
Miami	997	0.022	0.196	0.235
Jacksonville	1117	0.024	0.228	0.247
N.Y. Giants	1045	0.018	0.162	0.300
Minnesota	1101	0.019	0.158	0.235
Arizona	1035	0.014	0.115	0.204
Carolina	1143	0.023	0.192	0.252
New Orleans	1103	0.017	0.133	0.226
Denver	1148	0.032	0.278	0.382
Washington	1194	0.033	0.260	0.405
Tampa Bay	1123	0.025	0.194	0.222
Detroit	1073	0.041	0.363	0.430
Baltimore	1153	0.039	0.327	0.421
Dallas	1033	0.019	0.153	0.172
Seattle	1050	0.027	0.209	0.311
Cincinnati	1071	0.027	0.235	0.310
Houston	1128	0.027	0.262	0.280
N.Y. Jets	1061	0.036	0.289	0.404
Indianapolis	1095	0.019	0.158	0.164
Las Vegas	1042	0.020	0.171	0.245
LA Rams	1174	0.018	0.155	0.202
San Francisco	1015	0.018	0.139	0.222
Buffalo	1193	0.020	0.156	0.133
Pittsburgh	1089	0.018	0.166	0.190
Green Bay	1075	0.018	0.114	0.141
Chicago	1016	0.012	0.105	0.177
Cleveland	1036	0.016	0.142	0.197
Tennessee	996	0.031	0.294	0.334
Atlanta	1051	0.013	0.124	0.144
LA Chargers	1090	0.023	0.194	0.194