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 (289), Defensive Holding (211), Roughing the Passer (89), Face Mask (15 Yards) (63), Illegal Use of Hands (56), Illegal Contact (48), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (22), Horse Collar Tackle (16), and Taunting (7)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Jacksonville	1050	0.034	0.303	0.414
Detroit	1030	0.031	0.244	0.289
Cincinnati	1050	0.030	0.268	0.300
San Diego	1014	0.029	0.231	0.210
Arizona	1085	0.029	0.237	0.252
Indianapolis	1037	0.029	0.246	0.377
New England	1288	0.029	0.210	0.289
Green Bay	1226	0.028	0.249	0.373
Cleveland	983	0.028	0.253	0.335
Houston	1205	0.028	0.240	0.286
Oakland	1116	0.027	0.205	0.357
Denver	1020	0.025	0.190	0.259
Washington	1009	0.025	0.222	0.357
Atlanta	1178	0.025	0.211	0.299
Tampa Bay	1065	0.024	0.209	0.227
N.Y. Jets	1004	0.023	0.205	0.252
Tennessee	1008	0.023	0.177	0.266
LA Rams	960	0.023	0.209	0.289
Buffalo	1013	0.022	0.207	0.262
New Orleans	1105	0.021	0.186	0.233
Dallas	1073	0.020	0.150	0.231
Seattle	1135	0.020	0.197	0.285
Minnesota	1006	0.020	0.133	0.218
Baltimore	1080	0.020	0.178	0.259
Carolina	1051	0.019	0.161	0.230
Chicago	967	0.018	0.163	0.247
N.Y. Giants	1080	0.018	0.112	0.153
Pittsburgh	1213	0.018	0.139	0.194
Philadelphia	1080	0.017	0.131	0.198
Kansas City	1039	0.016	0.136	0.127
Miami	973	0.016	0.163	0.175
San Francisco	997	0.014	0.118	0.129