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	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Dallas	1107	0.034	0.266	0.421
Cleveland	1011	0.028	0.245	0.228
Cincinnati	1039	0.026	0.204	0.301
Carolina	1062	0.024	0.180	0.210
Arizona	1062	0.019	0.134	0.219
New Orleans	1061	0.025	0.264	0.245
New England	1224	0.021	0.173	0.213
Pittsburgh	1032	0.024	0.201	0.267
Denver	1204	0.017	0.136	0.191
Seattle	1115	0.025	0.224	0.238
Buffalo	1209	0.022	0.175	0.246
Minnesota	930	0.030	0.258	0.323
San Francisco	1180	0.019	0.155	0.126
Tennessee	995	0.019	0.154	0.173
Baltimore	963	0.019	0.181	0.197
N.Y. Giants	1073	0.034	0.314	0.395
Indianapolis	1002	0.025	0.276	0.351
Las Vegas	927	0.025	0.196	0.209
Green Bay	1073	0.021	0.158	0.276
Jacksonville	1132	0.027	0.279	0.294
Philadelphia	1072	0.019	0.155	0.210
LA Rams	1282	0.025	0.175	0.214
N.Y. Jets	993	0.015	0.145	0.211
Tampa Bay	1056	0.037	0.315	0.382
LA Chargers	1138	0.022	0.180	0.231
Kansas City	1049	0.021	0.209	0.322
Washington	978	0.036	0.278	0.429
Miami	931	0.009	0.078	0.107
Houston	1212	0.032	0.314	0.301
Atlanta	1039	0.028	0.253	0.274
Chicago	1249	0.018	0.156	0.118
Detroit	1054	0.014	0.101	0.136