QPR eased the pressure on manager Ian Holloway with their first win in 13 games.
First-half goals from Matthew Rose and Kevin Gallen proved to be enough, despite a second half dominated by the visitors, who pulled a goal back.
The previous three games between these sides saw six red cards and 13 goals so it perhaps came as no surprise there was a penalty appeal and two bookings for Rangers by the fifth minute.
Six minutes later, QPR were a goal up, thanks to a fine individual goal by makeshift left-back Rose.
He was given a ball by Danny Shittu and raced two thirds of the pitch before a one-two with Gallen putting him through for a cool finish.
On the half hour mark it was 2-0, after Richard Langley's free-kick was side-footed in by top scorer Gallen, for his ninth of the season.
The second half was a different story, as Wycombe forced six corners in as many minutes and Jonathan Dixon was only denied by a fine Nick Culkin save.
Gaps appeared in QPR's defence and both Darren Currie and Andy Rammell missed easy chances to score.
Wycombe manager Lawrie Sanchez was given chants of 'You don't know what you're doing' in the 74th minute when he took off the impressive Currie, but immediately afterwards his team scored.
The Rangers defence opened up again and Dixon lifted the ball over Culkin.
Wanderers poured forward, but the home side hung on and a double substitution by Holloway nearly produced another goal, Andy Thomson and Brett Angell setting up Gallen, who narrowly missed.
The Rangers boss said: "It is a nice feeling, it has been a long time since I've had it. Hopefully it will set us up on a winning run." Speaking of Rose's individual strike he added: "The quality of the first goal was phenomenal."