ORCHARD PARK - When the injuries, losses and criticism began piling up, Bills coach Dick Jauron remained steadfast in believing the character of his players would see the team through its rough start.

Now that the Bills are proving him correct, Jauron refuses to take any credit.

“No,” he said Monday, when asked if he ever considered himself an `I told you so' guy. “I'm definitely not.”

The mood has significantly brightened in Buffalo a day after a 33-21 win over Cincinnati.

The Bills (4-4) have won three straight and four of five, overcoming an 0-3 start to climb back into the AFC playoff race. Not bad for a rebuilding team that wasn't expected to do much before the season began and was then discounted entirely after losing three defensive starters to injury in its season opener.

“I'm particularly pleased for our players and our staff,” said Jauron, who rewarded his players with a day off. “It's good to see them rewarded. It's good to go in a locker room after a game and see the faces of guys when you win after they put in all that effort.”

Jauron remained cautious as the Bills have an opportunity to extend their run on Sunday, when they travel to play the winless Miami Dolphins.

“There's so much football to go,” he said. “We just have to see where it goes.”

The Bills have gotten this far with an injury-depleted defense that's improved steadily despite featuring three undrafted free agents playing starting roles.

After allowing an average 458 yards offense in its first three games, the Bills defense has allowed a mere 318 in its past five.

It's a unit that has forced 18 punts in its past three games after forcing 11 in its first five. And the Bills have forced 12 three-and-outs in their past three as opposed to four in their first five.

Buffalo enjoyed one of its most complete defensive efforts of the year in limiting the Bengals to 299 yards, and containing receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh to a combined 93 yards and one touchdown.

Defensive tackle Kyle Williams said the team's confidence level was high following the game. “When you have things that happen to you like they happened to us this season, it's tough. But when you're able to win games late like this, it's exciting.”

The Bills offense is also finding a semblance of chemistry despite a revolving door at quarterback between J.P. Losman and rookie Trent Edwards.

Jauron's not saying who'll get the start this weekend, but Losman has made a case to reclaim the starting job ahead of Edwards, who's been out since spraining his right wrist in the third quarter of a 13-3 win at the New York Jets two weeks ago.

Losman took over to engineer two fourth-quarter scoring drives against the Jets, and he followed up by going 24-of-34 for 295 yards passing and a touchdown against the Bengals, his first start since Week 3. Receiver Lee Evans has benefited since Losman's return. Evans has 269 yards receiving and two touchdowns in the past five quarters with Losman, as opposed to 245 yards receiving and no scores in his first six-plus games.

Rookie running back Marshawn Lynch has also found his stride, producing two scores - including an 8-yard pass to Robert Royal - and a career-best 153 yards rushing against the Bengals.

“Maybe they're learning how to win. Maybe we're just getting better,” Jauron said. “I don't know exactly what it is. I don't know that anybody ever does. But it's a much better feeling than we had early in the season.”