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 (276), Defensive Holding (247), Roughing the Passer (107), Illegal Use of Hands (74), Face Mask (15 Yards) (59), Illegal Contact (32), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (31), Horse Collar Tackle (16), Taunting (9), and Tripping (4)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
New England	1283	0.036	0.307	0.447
Kansas City	1038	0.022	0.183	0.184
Buffalo	1084	0.020	0.132	0.213
Baltimore	1054	0.012	0.100	0.134
Cleveland	1008	0.031	0.249	0.309
Pittsburgh	1129	0.027	0.214	0.405
Oakland	951	0.023	0.215	0.317
Jacksonville	1268	0.028	0.212	0.334
Houston	1029	0.043	0.360	0.493
Arizona	1058	0.037	0.362	0.427
Green Bay	999	0.026	0.232	0.271
Carolina	1096	0.025	0.204	0.283
Dallas	1005	0.023	0.171	0.295
LA Chargers	1019	0.029	0.232	0.349
Minnesota	1194	0.033	0.242	0.440
Denver	1075	0.020	0.181	0.254
Washington	982	0.021	0.181	0.240
Seattle	1007	0.027	0.244	0.281
LA Rams	1063	0.023	0.159	0.255
San Francisco	1058	0.018	0.149	0.188
Tampa Bay	1034	0.025	0.228	0.236
N.Y. Jets	984	0.029	0.225	0.322
Atlanta	1115	0.026	0.204	0.239
Detroit	979	0.026	0.234	0.319
Indianapolis	994	0.021	0.177	0.207
Philadelphia	1271	0.023	0.190	0.329
N.Y. Giants	1036	0.019	0.143	0.171
Tennessee	1099	0.024	0.205	0.198
Cincinnati	927	0.028	0.235	0.264
Miami	994	0.022	0.185	0.287
New Orleans	1124	0.014	0.101	0.133
Chicago	934	0.025	0.226	0.191