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 (207), Defensive Holding (106), Roughing the Passer (79), Illegal Contact (75), Face Mask (15 Yards) (43), Personal Foul (36), Illegal Use of Hands (26), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (17), Horse Collar Tackle (15), Tripping (5), and Taunting (2)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Tampa Bay	955	0.014	0.117	0.178
Houston	1029	0.017	0.143	0.216
Jacksonville	1019	0.019	0.172	0.278
Denver	1018	0.021	0.196	0.296
Tennessee	907	0.020	0.166	0.334
N.Y. Giants	1035	0.022	0.173	0.245
Carolina	962	0.019	0.165	0.227
Atlanta	1145	0.029	0.254	0.338
Green Bay	1247	0.016	0.123	0.146
Washington	1001	0.025	0.197	0.222
Baltimore	1149	0.023	0.218	0.317
Buffalo	954	0.014	0.116	0.156
St. Louis	1052	0.019	0.158	0.209
N.Y. Jets	1267	0.015	0.121	0.197
New England	1064	0.016	0.137	0.189
San Francisco	945	0.014	0.072	0.243
Cincinnati	1046	0.019	0.160	0.224
Minnesota	981	0.020	0.145	0.268
Dallas	1035	0.015	0.128	0.128
Philadelphia	1097	0.014	0.108	0.145
Arizona	931	0.018	0.160	0.219
Oakland	1040	0.026	0.233	0.367
Seattle	1085	0.021	0.141	0.191
Miami	1040	0.019	0.172	0.238
Chicago	1077	0.019	0.182	0.264
Cleveland	927	0.018	0.121	0.208
Pittsburgh	1190	0.014	0.123	0.181
Detroit	1064	0.018	0.157	0.180
New Orleans	1150	0.015	0.115	0.172
Indianapolis	1143	0.016	0.122	0.176
San Diego	1038	0.015	0.133	0.143
Kansas City	1102	0.011	0.094	0.107