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 (315), Defensive Holding (180), Roughing the Passer (100), Face Mask (65), Illegal Contact (57), Illegal Use of Hands (55), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (15), Horse Collar Tackle (14), Taunting (5), Tripping (1), and Lowering the Head to Make Forcible Contact (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Baltimore	1178	0.021	0.194	0.188
Green Bay	1071	0.019	0.125	0.277
Cincinnati	1070	0.032	0.250	0.323
Jacksonville	977	0.014	0.124	0.161
Miami	1071	0.019	0.176	0.218
Minnesota	1110	0.035	0.294	0.440
N.Y. Giants	1049	0.024	0.191	0.291
Buffalo	1218	0.025	0.240	0.250
New Orleans	1016	0.017	0.142	0.181
Carolina	976	0.023	0.164	0.253
Seattle	1012	0.030	0.217	0.332
Tampa Bay	1121	0.029	0.237	0.341
Washington	1309	0.025	0.210	0.280
LA Rams	1148	0.027	0.225	0.316
Cleveland	1094	0.022	0.206	0.251
Las Vegas	1046	0.019	0.168	0.204
New England	1015	0.025	0.233	0.232
Kansas City	1238	0.026	0.221	0.281
Pittsburgh	1119	0.027	0.230	0.338
Chicago	1058	0.022	0.189	0.216
Arizona	1023	0.024	0.204	0.258
San Francisco	1010	0.022	0.186	0.215
Atlanta	1066	0.024	0.170	0.257
Indianapolis	1021	0.021	0.204	0.328
N.Y. Jets	997	0.025	0.196	0.306
Denver	1082	0.014	0.119	0.124
Tennessee	1010	0.028	0.249	0.288
Houston	1177	0.015	0.125	0.144
LA Chargers	1060	0.026	0.225	0.295
Dallas	1088	0.029	0.248	0.262
Detroit	1168	0.015	0.128	0.149
Philadelphia	1358	0.017	0.138	0.173