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 (210), Defensive Holding (124), Roughing the Passer (100), Illegal Contact (70), Face Mask (15 Yards) (68), Personal Foul (42), Illegal Use of Hands (42), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (23), Horse Collar Tackle (16), Taunting (2), Tripping (1), and Clipping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
New Orleans	1278	0.013	0.103	0.135
Buffalo	992	0.026	0.217	0.390
Chicago	977	0.017	0.163	0.153
St. Louis	1014	0.025	0.186	0.260
San Francisco	1118	0.020	0.169	0.215
San Diego	1046	0.018	0.157	0.207
Cincinnati	1080	0.025	0.206	0.356
Cleveland	1024	0.020	0.152	0.214
Washington	1033	0.022	0.206	0.222
Minnesota	1007	0.016	0.132	0.201
Green Bay	1060	0.026	0.216	0.290
Pittsburgh	1083	0.021	0.207	0.231
Denver	1142	0.021	0.215	0.280
Miami	990	0.022	0.157	0.281
N.Y. Giants	1313	0.021	0.197	0.277
Jacksonville	1002	0.018	0.180	0.212
Oakland	1015	0.030	0.300	0.276
N.Y. Jets	1029	0.029	0.245	0.354
Baltimore	1169	0.022	0.168	0.340
Arizona	993	0.026	0.233	0.257
Dallas	1017	0.015	0.137	0.138
Indianapolis	951	0.019	0.145	0.274
Tennessee	983	0.016	0.150	0.178
Houston	1166	0.008	0.081	0.079
Kansas City	1021	0.022	0.192	0.204
Carolina	999	0.026	0.201	0.271
New England	1276	0.020	0.207	0.190
Detroit	1111	0.022	0.201	0.257
Atlanta	1137	0.023	0.169	0.228
Tampa Bay	966	0.016	0.104	0.177
Seattle	1003	0.016	0.154	0.233
Philadelphia	1035	0.019	0.175	0.199