Out of contract in the summer, Taylor put himself in the shop window with another terrific free-kick to beat Shay Given from around 25 yards.
Then the Latics wrapped up the three points with a second-half penalty from Amr Zaki, who hammered in his ninth Premier League goal of the season.
It came when Newcastle defender Sebastien Bassong brought down Emile Heskey to earn himself a red card - ref Mike Dean being spot on to allow play to continue as the Wigan striker battled his way into the box despite being initially fouled outside the area.
A late goal from Danny Guthrie - also from the penalty spot - meant a nail-biting finish but it proved a mere consolation for the visitors.
The Latics made one change to the starting line-up with Wilson Palacios back from suspension to take over from Michael Brown in midfield.
Newcastle had Damien Duff in for the injured Shola Ameobi while Mark Viduka was called up when Enrique was injured during the warm-up.
Michael Owen produced the first threat of the game racing onto the pass from Duff but Paul Scharner read it perfectly to make the crucial tackle.
A slip by Taylor almost let Jonas Gutierrez in but Chris Kirkland came up with the save and, from the corner, Viduka's header was blocked by Mario Melchiot.
Zaki then clipped a great ball across the face of goal but there was no one there to cash in, and Antonio Valencia was inches away from breaking the deadlock flicking the shot just wide from Zaki's cross.
Referee Dean was unimpressed by Wigan's penalty appeal when Duff appeared to handle.
But the breakthrough came from that trademark Taylor free-kick which into the top corner although he missed the chance to double the lead in first-half stoppage time.
In a frantic second half, Given kept out another effort from Taylor and. Kirkland had to be alert racing out to head clear as Owen bore down on goal.
But Zaki's spot-kick was the killer, and Wigan almost had a third when Given tipped away a shot from Wilson Palacios.
Newcastle pulled one back when Guthrie scored from the spot after Andrew Carroll went down under the challenge from Kirkland. And at the death, Duff lashed wide to blow the chance of an equaliser.