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 Holding (226), Defensive Pass Interference (215), Illegal Contact (106), Illegal Use of Hands (104), Roughing the Passer (99), Face Mask (15 Yards) (59), Personal Foul (31), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (20), Taunting (15), Horse Collar Tackle (14), and Tripping (5)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Green Bay	1133	0.023	0.175	0.305
Atlanta	1035	0.018	0.157	0.155
New Orleans	1095	0.026	0.227	0.247
Baltimore	1150	0.032	0.250	0.477
Chicago	1005	0.033	0.247	0.363
Oakland	994	0.019	0.154	0.218
San Francisco	1010	0.031	0.254	0.245
Indianapolis	1299	0.031	0.287	0.317
N.Y. Giants	1084	0.025	0.223	0.297
Arizona	1039	0.038	0.311	0.419
Cleveland	1010	0.021	0.162	0.178
New England	1289	0.026	0.201	0.258
Minnesota	980	0.024	0.212	0.245
Dallas	1124	0.031	0.286	0.334
Washington	1006	0.035	0.290	0.287
Denver	1136	0.027	0.213	0.264
Kansas City	962	0.027	0.236	0.232
Houston	1062	0.025	0.228	0.209
Philadelphia	1131	0.026	0.233	0.332
San Diego	1009	0.033	0.285	0.316
Cincinnati	1079	0.019	0.146	0.166
Detroit	1112	0.021	0.166	0.218
Pittsburgh	1140	0.027	0.231	0.266
Carolina	1204	0.027	0.250	0.237
St. Louis	958	0.020	0.182	0.258
Tennessee	919	0.021	0.161	0.170
N.Y. Jets	1053	0.020	0.161	0.203
Miami	1040	0.030	0.275	0.313
Tampa Bay	937	0.030	0.271	0.340
Jacksonville	988	0.033	0.338	0.304
Seattle	1195	0.019	0.137	0.188
Buffalo	1020	0.018	0.153	0.160