NFL: Ricky Williams quiet in loss

Ricky Williams carried the ball just 13 times in the 23-17 loss to Indianapolis. And twice in the second half. Two times.

"We really didn't have a lot of opportunities when you're one out of 10 on third downs," Miami head coach Dave Wannstedt said in his press conference on Monday. "I think our longest drive was eight plays on offense. When the running game gets going is when you're having those longer drives and you can mix in the run and the pass. So that was the reason that we were somewhat limited there."

Williams has had five straight games with less than 100 yards rushing, gaining a total of 313 yards on 104 carries, an average of just three yards per carry. The five games have been since his record 42 carries against Buffalo, when he picked up 153 yards.

"I thought we ran the ball well," Williams said after the game on Sunday. "I don't think they did a good job stopping us. I think the way the game was going, we didn't have a chance to run the ball as much as we wanted to."

Williams said he wasn't disappointed with only getting 13 carries. He had four receptions for 23 yards.

"That was the way the game was going," he said. "Brian (Griese) had a hot hand ... you've got to stay with him."

The Dolphins were moving the ball without using Williams much.

He touched the ball once on their quick third-quarter touchdown drive engineered by Griese. He had one carry again on the next possession, which ended in a punt. On the next drive, with the Dolphins down by nine points, Griese attempted four passes before a punt. Griese then moved Miami through the air in position for a field goal, and Williams carried the ball the play before Griese was sacked and fumbled to end the Dolphins' chances.

Williams had a similar stretch last year. He went four games with less than 100 yards in the middle of the year and five out of six. But Williams got going again over the last seven games, rushing for 1,042 yards.

When Williams rushed those 42 times against Buffalo, some worried about him becoming overused. That hasn't turned out to be the case. At the halfway point, he has 184 carries, only seven more than a year ago. However, he has 98 fewer yards.

Williams' totals don't figure to get any better this week. Tennessee leads the league in rushing defense at just 75.4 yards per game.

"I don't know (what to do), but we've got to do something," tight end Randy McMichael said of Williams. "Like I said, I just play tight end. But we've got to get No. 34 going, I know that."