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 (289), Defensive Holding (180), Illegal Contact (96), Roughing the Passer (94), Face Mask (68), Illegal Use of Hands (47), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (18), Taunting (14), Tripping (10), and Horse Collar Tackle (4)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Philadelphia	1119	0.031	0.262	0.406
Cincinnati	1034	0.021	0.183	0.173
Cleveland	1004	0.019	0.195	0.198
Jacksonville	1075	0.031	0.254	0.333
New Orleans	1043	0.022	0.175	0.264
Arizona	1081	0.025	0.194	0.181
Las Vegas	1063	0.021	0.156	0.266
N.Y. Jets	1079	0.026	0.270	0.292
Tennessee	1002	0.025	0.200	0.264
San Francisco	1145	0.022	0.190	0.190
Baltimore	1075	0.020	0.162	0.238
Chicago	1148	0.024	0.206	0.272
LA Rams	1260	0.019	0.182	0.164
N.Y. Giants	1044	0.029	0.266	0.384
Dallas	1037	0.022	0.165	0.287
Denver	1190	0.030	0.277	0.403
Indianapolis	1100	0.027	0.232	0.263
Carolina	1071	0.019	0.187	0.194
LA Chargers	1007	0.018	0.106	0.177
Miami	1013	0.028	0.286	0.292
Atlanta	1034	0.024	0.208	0.270
Green Bay	1128	0.023	0.173	0.199
Houston	1083	0.028	0.273	0.283
Minnesota	1015	0.019	0.173	0.201
New England	1144	0.023	0.156	0.277
Pittsburgh	1159	0.021	0.163	0.204
Tampa Bay	987	0.020	0.189	0.191
Kansas City	981	0.029	0.238	0.256
Detroit	1037	0.028	0.203	0.212
Seattle	1163	0.024	0.208	0.216
Buffalo	1055	0.023	0.217	0.238
Washington	1078	0.022	0.172	0.227