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 (247), Defensive Holding (175), Roughing the Passer (89), Face Mask (15 Yards) (54), Personal Foul (45), Illegal Use of Hands (40), Illegal Contact (38), and Tripping (1)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Defensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Denver	1234	0.027	0.240	0.269
Seattle	1175	0.028	0.254	0.372
Chicago	1021	0.012	0.099	0.130
Cleveland	1107	0.021	0.162	0.283
Minnesota	1132	0.012	0.121	0.216
Oakland	1030	0.021	0.171	0.221
Pittsburgh	1020	0.017	0.120	0.176
Arizona	1042	0.021	0.183	0.235
N.Y. Giants	1088	0.015	0.104	0.188
Houston	969	0.027	0.215	0.454
N.Y. Jets	1047	0.019	0.154	0.220
Atlanta	1003	0.023	0.193	0.240
Baltimore	1031	0.019	0.153	0.186
Buffalo	1089	0.025	0.241	0.250
Carolina	1039	0.024	0.186	0.198
Dallas	1094	0.023	0.197	0.235
Philadelphia	1217	0.018	0.154	0.226
Detroit	982	0.024	0.187	0.273
Tampa Bay	1020	0.024	0.224	0.312
San Francisco	1193	0.016	0.113	0.179
Cincinnati	1099	0.018	0.155	0.267
St. Louis	1014	0.030	0.266	0.282
Miami	1088	0.017	0.142	0.208
New England	1253	0.014	0.105	0.164
New Orleans	1056	0.016	0.144	0.188
Tennessee	1027	0.022	0.178	0.257
Jacksonville	1090	0.017	0.140	0.219
San Diego	1109	0.018	0.142	0.199
Kansas City	1132	0.020	0.183	0.171
Indianapolis	1179	0.021	0.148	0.214
Green Bay	1078	0.013	0.086	0.155
Washington	993	0.016	0.130	0.155