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 (253), Defensive Holding (149), Roughing the Passer (90), Illegal Contact (68), Face Mask (15 Yards) (53), Personal Foul (51), Illegal Use of Hands (50), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (21), Horse Collar Tackle (19), Tripping (2), and Taunting (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Chicago	998	0.025	0.222	0.291
Indianapolis	1196	0.031	0.247	0.401
N.Y. Jets	1034	0.029	0.212	0.229
Houston	1241	0.018	0.129	0.242
Denver	1177	0.029	0.253	0.274
Oakland	998	0.022	0.165	0.299
Baltimore	1313	0.028	0.238	0.327
San Diego	987	0.020	0.209	0.214
Kansas City	1015	0.018	0.163	0.228
Detroit	1159	0.016	0.123	0.200
Minnesota	1062	0.021	0.152	0.254
Atlanta	1133	0.025	0.220	0.199
San Francisco	1152	0.016	0.105	0.174
Arizona	1018	0.014	0.144	0.153
Miami	980	0.030	0.252	0.366
Cincinnati	1065	0.018	0.183	0.232
Washington	1047	0.019	0.165	0.223
N.Y. Giants	968	0.033	0.300	0.377
Philadelphia	1079	0.018	0.141	0.231
Green Bay	1165	0.031	0.240	0.360
New England	1339	0.023	0.182	0.268
Tennessee	956	0.023	0.198	0.203
New Orleans	1038	0.016	0.163	0.190
Seattle	1108	0.019	0.155	0.262
Tampa Bay	1008	0.019	0.198	0.209
Carolina	988	0.029	0.222	0.254
Buffalo	981	0.015	0.114	0.194
Jacksonville	994	0.024	0.203	0.257
Pittsburgh	1023	0.021	0.187	0.280
Dallas	1049	0.023	0.207	0.256
Cleveland	998	0.017	0.129	0.201
St. Louis	1003	0.015	0.157	0.169