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 (243), Defensive Holding (219), Roughing the Passer (102), Illegal Use of Hands (80), Face Mask (15 Yards) (67), Illegal Contact (62), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (39), Horse Collar Tackle (12), Taunting (9), Personal Foul (4), and Tripping (4)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
New England	1183	0.026	0.235	0.342
Pittsburgh	1139	0.028	0.232	0.416
Green Bay	1192	0.034	0.297	0.473
Washington	1081	0.022	0.171	0.225
Miami	977	0.021	0.173	0.253
Houston	1189	0.021	0.165	0.234
Arizona	1165	0.039	0.320	0.441
Baltimore	1083	0.016	0.144	0.134
Tennessee	977	0.032	0.230	0.312
Dallas	970	0.033	0.252	0.247
Atlanta	1073	0.027	0.249	0.213
Buffalo	1016	0.015	0.131	0.196
N.Y. Giants	1053	0.030	0.244	0.344
Chicago	1025	0.018	0.137	0.273
Detroit	1030	0.020	0.165	0.183
Tampa Bay	1016	0.027	0.228	0.303
Oakland	1010	0.028	0.235	0.345
Jacksonville	1011	0.022	0.169	0.256
Philadelphia	1104	0.027	0.268	0.331
Minnesota	1029	0.023	0.204	0.254
St. Louis	920	0.018	0.132	0.289
Cincinnati	1072	0.033	0.305	0.384
Indianapolis	1052	0.030	0.248	0.298
Cleveland	1041	0.028	0.256	0.241
San Diego	1100	0.022	0.219	0.224
Denver	1248	0.023	0.181	0.200
San Francisco	969	0.020	0.168	0.184
N.Y. Jets	1074	0.016	0.132	0.178
Kansas City	1100	0.025	0.252	0.251
Carolina	1267	0.016	0.140	0.144
Seattle	1156	0.010	0.089	0.125
New Orleans	1095	0.032	0.262	0.261