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 (249), Defensive Holding (247), Roughing the Passer (118), Face Mask (15 Yards) (67), Illegal Use of Hands (57), Illegal Contact (44), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (31), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (15), Horse Collar Tackle (12), Taunting (10), and Tripping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Philadelphia	1147	0.027	0.255	0.312
Baltimore	1194	0.019	0.164	0.252
Buffalo	1008	0.032	0.329	0.457
Cleveland	1023	0.027	0.260	0.292
Cincinnati	939	0.027	0.236	0.280
San Francisco	1003	0.041	0.382	0.359
New England	1313	0.023	0.184	0.249
Tampa Bay	1055	0.031	0.299	0.353
New Orleans	1145	0.025	0.176	0.287
N.Y. Giants	983	0.017	0.166	0.234
Dallas	1145	0.024	0.190	0.196
Detroit	1018	0.031	0.283	0.402
N.Y. Jets	970	0.019	0.146	0.197
LA Rams	1263	0.023	0.215	0.236
Atlanta	1009	0.026	0.263	0.365
Carolina	1011	0.024	0.183	0.294
Pittsburgh	1058	0.032	0.233	0.305
Houston	1108	0.028	0.245	0.270
Indianapolis	1190	0.028	0.245	0.308
Denver	1014	0.024	0.208	0.225
Tennessee	938	0.020	0.176	0.213
Oakland	993	0.014	0.104	0.145
Kansas City	1120	0.029	0.296	0.295
Washington	967	0.024	0.187	0.246
Green Bay	1026	0.020	0.153	0.221
Chicago	1075	0.036	0.274	0.407
Miami	878	0.024	0.227	0.214
Arizona	902	0.022	0.213	0.218
Seattle	1064	0.030	0.210	0.361
Minnesota	1003	0.022	0.151	0.190
Jacksonville	1004	0.017	0.170	0.150
LA Chargers	1073	0.021	0.179	0.176