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 (211), Roughing the Passer (89), Face Mask (15 Yards) (63), Illegal Use of Hands (56), Illegal Contact (48), Unsportsmanlike Conduct (22), Horse Collar Tackle (16), and Taunting (7)

Scroll left and right for additional columns.

Team	Offensive Plays	Total	Yardage Mitigated	Penalty Yards
Denver	1020	0.025	0.190	0.259
Tampa Bay	1065	0.024	0.209	0.227
Chicago	967	0.018	0.163	0.247
Green Bay	1226	0.028	0.249	0.373
Jacksonville	1050	0.034	0.303	0.414
N.Y. Jets	1004	0.023	0.205	0.252
Cincinnati	1050	0.030	0.268	0.300
Cleveland	983	0.028	0.253	0.335
San Diego	1014	0.029	0.231	0.210
Washington	1009	0.025	0.222	0.357
San Francisco	997	0.014	0.118	0.129
Detroit	1030	0.031	0.244	0.289
Tennessee	1008	0.023	0.177	0.266
Kansas City	1039	0.016	0.136	0.127
Miami	973	0.016	0.163	0.175
N.Y. Giants	1080	0.018	0.112	0.153
Dallas	1073	0.020	0.150	0.231
Seattle	1135	0.020	0.197	0.285
LA Rams	960	0.023	0.209	0.289
Oakland	1116	0.027	0.205	0.357
Minnesota	1006	0.020	0.133	0.218
Philadelphia	1080	0.017	0.131	0.198
Pittsburgh	1213	0.018	0.139	0.194
Atlanta	1178	0.025	0.211	0.299
Carolina	1051	0.019	0.161	0.230
Baltimore	1080	0.020	0.178	0.259
Houston	1205	0.028	0.240	0.286
Buffalo	1013	0.022	0.207	0.262
Arizona	1085	0.029	0.237	0.252
Indianapolis	1037	0.029	0.246	0.377
New England	1288	0.029	0.210	0.289
New Orleans	1105	0.021	0.186	0.233