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 (127), Defensive Holding (82), Illegal Contact (53), Roughing the Passer (46), Face Mask (31), Illegal Use of Hands (22), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (6), Tripping (3), Taunting (3), and Horse Collar Tackle (2)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Philadelphia	443	0.038	0.314	0.483
Cincinnati	446	0.020	0.161	0.108
Cleveland	390	0.023	0.249	0.238
Jacksonville	417	0.036	0.249	0.384
New Orleans	431	0.028	0.230	0.265
Arizona	444	0.041	0.329	0.288
Las Vegas	430	0.021	0.095	0.193
N.Y. Jets	431	0.023	0.255	0.278
Tennessee	428	0.030	0.208	0.283
San Francisco	417	0.038	0.367	0.317
Baltimore	401	0.020	0.155	0.252
Chicago	328	0.040	0.351	0.534
LA Rams	468	0.024	0.250	0.212
N.Y. Giants	460	0.037	0.337	0.546
Dallas	461	0.024	0.167	0.275
Denver	423	0.045	0.459	0.593
Indianapolis	435	0.032	0.225	0.299
Carolina	385	0.013	0.143	0.234
LA Chargers	403	0.020	0.094	0.189
Miami	420	0.031	0.371	0.248
Atlanta	320	0.019	0.169	0.213
Green Bay	384	0.034	0.221	0.268
Houston	341	0.032	0.340	0.267
Minnesota	345	0.014	0.145	0.113
New England	386	0.031	0.161	0.254
Pittsburgh	409	0.027	0.176	0.215
Tampa Bay	418	0.033	0.325	0.325
Kansas City	367	0.035	0.349	0.319
Detroit	409	0.029	0.222	0.293
Seattle	452	0.033	0.265	0.294
Buffalo	341	0.018	0.164	0.117
Washington	435	0.023	0.161	0.255