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 (284), Defensive Holding (253), Roughing the Passer (136), Illegal Use of Hands (76), Face Mask (15 Yards) (50), Illegal Contact (38), Lowering the Head to Initiate Contact (24), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (19), Horse Collar Tackle (19), Taunting (4), and Tripping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Chicago	1019	0.027	0.220	0.213
Green Bay	1137	0.031	0.252	0.356
Minnesota	1089	0.033	0.276	0.314
Atlanta	1096	0.029	0.244	0.349
LA Rams	1055	0.020	0.172	0.169
Cleveland	973	0.031	0.218	0.270
LA Chargers	995	0.035	0.337	0.402
Seattle	1163	0.021	0.211	0.206
Cincinnati	1048	0.032	0.302	0.329
Tampa Bay	1086	0.022	0.209	0.286
San Francisco	1185	0.024	0.184	0.260
New England	1154	0.027	0.217	0.289
Pittsburgh	938	0.038	0.323	0.509
Denver	954	0.034	0.266	0.357
Arizona	998	0.027	0.233	0.374
Buffalo	1099	0.019	0.150	0.231
Indianapolis	1015	0.031	0.237	0.380
Tennessee	1117	0.030	0.276	0.289
Oakland	989	0.017	0.143	0.178
Kansas City	1173	0.038	0.330	0.368
Jacksonville	1020	0.026	0.223	0.282
Miami	1023	0.034	0.300	0.413
Philadelphia	1165	0.027	0.252	0.332
N.Y. Giants	1012	0.025	0.187	0.226
New Orleans	1065	0.015	0.112	0.139
Washington	884	0.019	0.148	0.206
Carolina	1077	0.017	0.136	0.242
Houston	1159	0.027	0.222	0.223
Dallas	1069	0.023	0.213	0.213
N.Y. Jets	957	0.026	0.230	0.305
Detroit	1022	0.028	0.272	0.279
Baltimore	1156	0.020	0.163	0.232