Correct call or not? Pivotal fumble call

So I'm sitting at home (too sick to be there today) and when that first fumble on their drive, I believe the call went sort of correct, but ultimately wrong in ball placement. I may be wrong, if so please clarify because it looks as though Pete was arguing the same thing I'm going to post here:

Situation: 3rd and 1, handoff to Cunningham, who gets the ball popped out at approximately the line of scrimmage (clearly before the line to gain (the 39 yard line)). Ball gets recovered by STL downfield at approximately the 33 yard line. On the next play, the ball is spotted at the 35 yard line with STL awarded a first down.

Scratching my head at all of this wondering why the heck STL wasn't saddled with a 4th and 1 having to decide whether to punt or go for it. My memory of the rule is a forward fumble recovered by the offense returns to the point of the fumble.

* I have screenshots of this, but I think this is descriptive enough.

Thoughts?

What was the clock on this?

Yeah i was yelling the same thing....

Lots of key hold calls & clipping call...Refs signaling Rams ball before even knowing outcome....Reminds me of the Cardinals game....Are these the same crew?

@rcaido: I think correct fumble possession was called - that's not the point here - it's did they earn a first down on the fumble.

@mikeak: The clock time was 13:22 left in the 4th quarter.

Only when the clock is under two minutes in the half the ball can not be advanced by a fumble.

saroos":3e9u3og1 said:

Only when the clock is under two minutes in the half the ball can not be advanced by a fumble.

Click to expand...

Instituted due to the holy roller play from 1978
http://www.nfl.com/videos/oakland-raiders/0ap3000000609038/A-Football-Life-Snake

I just find it funny that this is the third game in a row against the Rams that this has happened. It's crunch time, we need the ball back, we force a fumble, recover, and it's given back to the Rams anyway. 3 games in a row. The odds are astronomical.

We didn't recover. The first game of the season we did and they somehow gave the Rams the ball. This time they got it right