CINCINNATI -- Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor knew he was going to be without top receiver Robert Woods on Sunday. But it took Taylor a play or two before he realized leading rusher LeSean McCoy wasn't coming back either.

"I thought Shady was just going out for a couple plays, fatigue-wise," Taylor said. "Then after a couple more plays I realized he wasn't with us."

With Buffalo desperately needing a win to keep its playoff hopes alive, Taylor made the most of what he had and the Bills' defense tightened up in the second half to pick up a critical victory.

Taylor passed for 166 yards and rushed for 39, and Dan Carpenter kicked field goals of 20, 26, and 54 yards as Buffalo defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 16-12 in a battle of attrition at Paul Brown Stadium.

"We're in a desperate position," Bills defensive tackle Kyle Washington said. "We'll take pretty wins. We'll take ugly wins. We'll take 'em all."

Injuries were the theme of the day.

McCoy left in the second quarter with a thumb injury and did not return after rushing for 33 yards and a touchdown. Woods injured his left knee after making a catch late in the first quarter.

"I feel a little deflated about the injuries because I know what this team can do if we're healthy," Bills coach Rex Ryan said. "I feel great about it. We needed a win. We'll see where we go from here."

Mike Gillislee rushed for 72 yards on 14 carries in McCoy's place as Buffalo (5-5) snapped a three-game losing streak. The Bills hadn't won since Oct. 16 when they won their third straight.

Cincinnati also suffered a significant injury when five-time Pro Bowler A.J. Green injured a hamstring on the third play from scrimmage and didn't return.

Without Green, Bengals QB Andy Dalton had a rough afternoon, going 24 of 43 for 207 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for a 57.0 rating. Dalton had a 2-yard touchdown run to give the Bengals an early 7-6 lead.

"You never want to lose a guy like that," Dalton said. "He's the best receiver in the league, so when you lose him, it hurts you."

Mike Nugent also missed two extra-point attempts that proved to be critical late in the game when the Bengals needed a touchdown rather than a field goal to win on the final drive.

"On a windy day, you've got to be able to read it and hit correctly," Nugent said. "Don't hit the ball up there in the wind and give it a chance to not go through the uprights. I did that on two very, very crucial moments."

The Bengals have auditioned other kickers in recent weeks.

"It's too early for me to comment on that," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said when asked about Nugent's status.

It was Nugent's missed extra-point attempt that contributed to a 27-27 tie with the Washington Redskins three weeks ago in London.

Dalton was sacked for the 29th time this season on the game's first play.

Buffalo drove 75 yards in eight plays with McCoy rushing for 28 yards and scoring on a 7-yard run to make the score 7-0.

Without Green, rookie Tyler Boyd had six catches for 54 yards and his first career touchdown with three minutes left in the first half to put the Bengals ahead 12-10. The Bills' deficit remained two after Nugent missed his second PAT.

Buffalo couldn't convert promising drives into touchdowns in the second half when two Carpenter field goals put them ahead 16-12 early in the fourth quarter.

"We needed touchdowns in the red zone, not field goals," Taylor said. "That's disappointing. But the defense had our backs."

Indeed.

In the second quarter, Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore anticipated an out route to Brandon LaFell and returned his interception 49 yards to the Bengals' 3-yard line.

"Saw during film study that they run comebacks on the outside," Gilmore said. "I knew he wasn't taking me deep the way he came off the ball. I was just aggressive there."

Buffalo again settled for a Carpenter field goal to make it 10-6.

The Bills' defense gave the Bengals little chance to rally in the second half, forcing four straight three-and-outs in one stretch.

Cincinnati drove to the 28-yard line with three seconds remaining in the game, but Dalton's pass into the end zone fell incomplete.

Cincinnati (3-6-1) has lost three straight to further derail its playoff hopes.

"It's disappointing to not win that football game today," Lewis said. "There were opportunities both on offense and defense to get more done. We left it out there."

NOTES: Bills DT Corbin Bryant missed his third straight game with a shoulder injury. Jerel Worthy started in his place. ... Bengals LB Rey Maualuga was inactive Sunday. He missed Monday's game with an injured fibula but returned to practice on Thursday. Vinny Rey started for Maualuga. ... Ryan Groy started at center for Buffalo. ... Cincinnati was playing at Paul Brown Stadium for the first time since Oct. 23. ... Buffalo DE Adolphus Washington attended Taft High School in Cincinnati.