While everybody is marveling at the other team's running back and his pursuit of a record, Ricky Williams happens to be 25 yards away from history.

The Miami Dolphins running back needs to cover that minor amount of real estate Sunday against the Tennessee Titans to break the NFL record for longest span between 1,000-yard seasons.

Williams' last 1,000-yard season came in 2003.

Five running backs have gone five years between 1,000-yard campaigns:

• Mike Garrett 1967 and 1972
• Ottis Anderson 1984 and 1989
• Ernest Byner 1985 and 1990
• Gary Brown 1993 and 1998
• Mike Anderson 2000 and 2005

Some might assume Williams was able to approach another 1,000-yard campaign because Ronnie Brown suffered a season-ending foot injury a month ago. But at the time Brown went down, Williams was on pace for 992 yards anyway.

That's fantastic for a running back who turned 32 in May. Even more amazing is that Williams is averaging 4.9 yards a carry, the best of his decorated career. When Williams led the NFL in rushing in 2002, he averaged 4.8 yards a carry.

"That tells you a little something about him making the most of his opportunities early on when he wasn’t getting the ball 25 times a game," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. "That says a lot about Ricky in that kind of situation. Also says a lot about guys up front and what they have done for him that way.

"But Ricky is a guy, as I have said before, that takes tremendous care of himself and is really ready. I really felt like when the season started that both backs could have a really big year. If we could get some of the things worked out up front offensively, I felt the both of them could have a really big year with the way they prepared.

"Ronnie was on pace to have a great year, and unfortunately we have an injury there. but with Ricky, the guy is prepared for this."