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 (247), Defensive Holding (175), Roughing the Passer (89), Face Mask (15 Yards) (54), Personal Foul (45), Illegal Use of Hands (40), Illegal Contact (38), Horse Collar Tackle (26), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (25), Taunting (16), and Tripping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Baltimore	1090	0.032	0.266	0.479
Carolina	1052	0.021	0.163	0.214
Cincinnati	1176	0.014	0.111	0.192
Miami	985	0.010	0.093	0.090
Detroit	1102	0.016	0.117	0.166
Indianapolis	1153	0.025	0.205	0.331
Tennessee	1031	0.027	0.216	0.266
St. Louis	968	0.022	0.174	0.264
Dallas	957	0.026	0.201	0.240
San Diego	1167	0.031	0.268	0.342
New England	1267	0.028	0.244	0.336
Cleveland	1077	0.016	0.145	0.143
Buffalo	1116	0.023	0.182	0.250
Kansas City	1109	0.028	0.238	0.229
Arizona	1037	0.033	0.275	0.389
New Orleans	1217	0.020	0.173	0.213
N.Y. Giants	988	0.024	0.180	0.265
Seattle	1141	0.020	0.176	0.257
Pittsburgh	1005	0.016	0.136	0.215
Atlanta	1024	0.032	0.255	0.365
N.Y. Jets	1020	0.017	0.155	0.212
Tampa Bay	980	0.030	0.258	0.411
Washington	1107	0.011	0.108	0.098
Chicago	1013	0.025	0.189	0.235
Denver	1360	0.024	0.180	0.261
San Francisco	1143	0.019	0.204	0.214
Houston	1089	0.014	0.113	0.169
Philadelphia	1112	0.019	0.162	0.220
Green Bay	1135	0.021	0.172	0.277
Jacksonville	1018	0.020	0.158	0.224
Minnesota	1013	0.020	0.142	0.316
Oakland	999	0.015	0.111	0.179