DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -For Miami Dolphins coach Nick Saban, the Monday after a victory always feels good, though the feeling rarely lingers.

Saban said he was pleased with his team's effort and even joked with reporters the day after the Dolphins dominated Tom Brady and the AFC East-leading New England Patriots a 21-0 win, the Dolphins' first shutout in six years.

``It's always better, it's always more positive, but I think there's also a trap that when you are having success and you do play well, how do you respond to the next challenge?'' Saban said. ``You can't get satisfied, you can't relax. You can't be relieved.

``I always talk about having a 24-hour-rule when you enjoy what your accomplishments were ... and when Wednesday comes we need to get ready to go play the next game and have the same kind of formula for success.''

It was Miami's fifth win in the past six games, but the Dolphins (6-7) remain on the periphery of a crowded AFC playoff race after a crushing 1-6 start to the season.

Miami next plays on Sunday against Buffalo (6-7), who are tied with Miami for third in the AFC East. The Dolphins have a chance to finish strong for the second straight season by staying focused on Saban's one-game-at-a-time approach and not worry about their slim playoff hopes.

``We'll just keep playing. If it's meant to be it will happen,'' defensive end Jason Taylor said after the game. ``We have no one to blame but ourselves ... We'll go to Buffalo and try to beat a good team up there. It will sort itself out.''

The win over the Patriots (9-4) was the first shutout for the Dolphins since a Sept. 3, 2000 win over Seattle, and Saban praised all aspects of the Dolphins' attack - offense, defense and special teams.

``A lot of guys brought their A-game so to speak and won a lot of individual battles out there with the effort, the toughness, the intensity, the focus that they played with,'' Saban said. ``Every player kind of took it as a challenge. Whatever his role was in the game, he was going to go in there and do a good job of that.''

The offense generated 315 yards of total offense, a 123-yard effort from running back Sammy Morris, and gave up zero turnovers. The offense generated a handful of what Saban called ``game-defining'' plays, such as a 32-yard scoring strike from Joey Harrington to receiver Marty Booker, another 26-yard catch by Booker and a late-game sprint of 44 yards by Morris that sealed the game.

The defense, led by Taylor's constant harassment of Brady and Yeremiah Bell's aggressive play, sacked Brady four times, forced him to fumble twice and limited him to 78 yards passing. The Patriots totaled a season-low 189 yards and lost three fumbles, giving them 11 turnovers in the past three games.

Taylor had a sack and several quarterback pressures, while Bell had a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery after hitting Brady from behind on one fourth-quarter play.

And the special teams were, well, special. Punter Donnie Jones dropped three kicks within the Patriots' 5-yard line and punt returner Wes Welker was solid, allowing Miami to win the field position battle. On average, Miami started its drives on its 36-yard line: For the Patriots, it was their own 24.

``This shutout feels good, especially against a team like the Patriots,'' Bell said. ``For them to have to fly back to New England with no points, it feels real good.''

In the midst of all the good feelings, Monday's news conference almost ended on a sour note. A reporter asked about the vacant Alabama coaching job, which Saban's name had been linked to, and the former LSU coach bristled.

``I'm not talking about that, guys,'' said Saban, who has denied interest in the job.

But he made reporters laugh with his next statement.

``I have no intentions of going anywhere,'' Saban said. ``You know, hell may not want me here after this season. Ever think of that?''

Notes: On the injury front, Saban said Rex Hadnot (shoulder), Joey Harrington (ankle), and Jeno James (knee) would be re-evaluated Wednesday ... Saban said Daunte Culpepper (knee) and Ronnie Brown (hand) would likely miss the Buffalo game.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.