The Texans continued to see improvement in 2009. Despite losing their opening game against the New York Jets, the Texans went 5-3 through the first half of the season including a victory over division rival the Tennessee Titans in week 2. However this would prove to be their only division win of the season. The Texans suffered close losses in the next 4 games before closing out with 4 consecutive wins. Their final game, a come from behind victory over the New England Patriots would cap off the Texans' first ever winning season at 9–7, and keep faint hopes alive in Houston for a chance to make the playoffs for the first time in the short history of the franchise. However those hopes were short lived, with the Jets edging them out of the wild card spot with their victory against the Cincinnati Bengals later that night. The Texans 9–7 record tied both AFC wild card winners, the Jets and Baltimore Ravens, but the Jets and Ravens received precedence due to their superior records in conference games (both 7-5 versus Texans 6-6), leaving the Texans out of the postseason.