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 (214), Defensive Holding (131), Illegal Contact (78), Roughing the Passer (73), Face Mask (46), Illegal Use of Hands (30), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (12), Taunting (8), Tripping (5), and Horse Collar Tackle (2)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Philadelphia	767	0.029	0.235	0.340
Cincinnati	773	0.023	0.193	0.180
Cleveland	697	0.022	0.231	0.214
Jacksonville	718	0.036	0.269	0.380
New Orleans	725	0.025	0.185	0.237
Arizona	733	0.029	0.226	0.191
Las Vegas	739	0.020	0.129	0.244
N.Y. Jets	746	0.029	0.294	0.343
Tennessee	716	0.024	0.175	0.237
San Francisco	784	0.023	0.212	0.181
Baltimore	770	0.019	0.164	0.248
Chicago	689	0.032	0.292	0.389
LA Rams	767	0.021	0.216	0.181
N.Y. Giants	824	0.032	0.294	0.438
Dallas	814	0.021	0.135	0.262
Denver	763	0.038	0.349	0.486
Indianapolis	782	0.035	0.284	0.330
Carolina	748	0.015	0.124	0.172
LA Chargers	653	0.023	0.123	0.234
Miami	720	0.028	0.310	0.267
Atlanta	740	0.018	0.159	0.239
Green Bay	723	0.030	0.207	0.231
Houston	670	0.031	0.333	0.300
Minnesota	741	0.016	0.146	0.179
New England	726	0.022	0.135	0.216
Pittsburgh	807	0.021	0.154	0.200
Tampa Bay	711	0.025	0.226	0.252
Kansas City	656	0.032	0.270	0.329
Detroit	797	0.028	0.208	0.245
Seattle	750	0.027	0.216	0.224
Buffalo	671	0.019	0.182	0.164
Washington	737	0.019	0.136	0.228