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 (190), Defensive Holding (104), Illegal Contact (92), Face Mask (15 Yards) (82), Roughing the Passer (69), Illegal Use of Hands (30), Personal Foul (28), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (21), Horse Collar Tackle (16), Tripping (4), Taunting (4), and Roughing the Kicker (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Atlanta	1048	0.020	0.162	0.164
Cleveland	970	0.011	0.101	0.156
Minnesota	1196	0.023	0.171	0.278
Tampa Bay	961	0.015	0.126	0.197
Green Bay	1109	0.032	0.243	0.339
Jacksonville	1009	0.014	0.086	0.145
Houston	1043	0.011	0.075	0.105
Seattle	1045	0.024	0.179	0.270
Denver	1032	0.021	0.216	0.298
Baltimore	1131	0.013	0.142	0.215
San Diego	1032	0.020	0.192	0.239
N.Y. Giants	1017	0.020	0.178	0.201
Cincinnati	1072	0.023	0.207	0.212
Detroit	1037	0.023	0.180	0.289
New England	1139	0.028	0.215	0.316
Arizona	1094	0.024	0.188	0.282
Kansas City	1018	0.022	0.145	0.220
Dallas	1158	0.018	0.160	0.210
San Francisco	938	0.016	0.112	0.253
Pittsburgh	1015	0.024	0.212	0.282
Buffalo	912	0.023	0.196	0.274
Washington	969	0.017	0.142	0.173
Oakland	943	0.020	0.215	0.213
N.Y. Jets	1206	0.014	0.129	0.149
New Orleans	1211	0.016	0.128	0.191
Philadelphia	1031	0.019	0.157	0.186
Chicago	971	0.022	0.172	0.241
Indianapolis	1180	0.024	0.205	0.359
St. Louis	996	0.013	0.092	0.124
Miami	1088	0.013	0.127	0.162
Tennessee	990	0.016	0.139	0.126
Carolina	1023	0.012	0.099	0.100