HOUSTON — The regular season is nearly half over and the Houston Texans are No. 1 in the NFL in both scoring and total defense.

That means something to Broncos coach Sean Payton.

“We’re not at Week 3 now,’’ Payton said. “We’re far enough along where that’s the DNA. They’re real good.”

The Broncos (6-2) will see the defense played by the Texans (3-4) Sunday at Houston’s NRG Stadium. It will be a lot different than what they saw last Sunday.

In a 44-24 win over Dallas, the Broncos lit up the Cowboys, who came in No. 32 and last in the NFL in total defense. Bo Nix threw for 247 yards and four touchdowns and J.K. Dobbins rushed for 111 yards on just 15 carries.

“It’s a tough task ahead,’’ Dobbins’ said about facing the defense of the other Texas team. “They have a great all-around defense. … They’re very sound. They have great coaches that coach them well. So it’s going to be tough but we can do it.”

If you ask wide receiver Trent Sherfield, how Dobbins and other Denver runners do could be pivotal. Sherfield played for Minnesota last season when the Vikings walloped the Texans 34-7 in Week 3 and Aaron Jones had 102 yards rushing.

“That’s the key is being able to run the ball and and stay ahead of the sticks because I think obviously when you got the type of front they have, when you get behind the chains, that makes it pretty tough on the quarterback,’’ Sherfield said.

The Texans have a pair of elite pass rushers in Will Anderson, who has five sacks, and Danielle Hunter, who has 4. They have a top-notch secondary that includes cornerback Darryl Stingley Jr., a Pro Bowl selection last season, and safety Jalen Pitre, tied for third in the league with three interceptions.

“There’s a multitude of things they do exceptionally well,’’ Payton said.

The architect of Houston’s defense is third-year head coach DeMeco Ryans. When Broncos tackle Mike McGlinchey played for San Francisco from 2018-22, Ryans was an assistant coach, including defensive coordinator from 2021-22.

“They’re talented and they’re very well coached, and they play hard,’’ McGlinchey said of the Texans’ defenders. “I remember how DeMeco coached when I was with him in San Francisco. They’re a really talented group and it’s a huge challenge for us.’’

Ryans was an NFL linebacker from 2006-15. He was known as a relentless defender, and his players take after him.

“You can see his touches all over,’’ Payton said.

“They’re physical everywhere,’’ said Broncos tight end Adam Trautman. “They play super hard. They defend every blade of grass.”

The surface at NRG Stadium is actually synthetic Hellas Matrix Helix, but you get the idea.

The Texans, due to a shaky offense, got off to a 0-3 start but they since have won three of their last four games. On the season, they have given up an average of just 14.7 points and 266.9 yards per game.

While the Broncos’ offense will be trying to dent the Houston defense, Denver’s defense will be taking great interest. The Broncos rank No. 5 in the NFL in scoring, giving up 18.9 points per game, and No. 5 in total defense, allowing 281.4 yards per outing. But defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers believes they have the NFL’s top unit.

“We want to be the best and we know that we’re the best and it’s just another opportunity to go out there and prove we’re the best,’’ Franklin-Myers said. “That’s a good defense (the Texans have). I’ve got nothing bad to say about them. They’ve got some good pass rushers over there. … But at the end of the day, we want to be best.”

Asked point blank who has the best defense in the NFL, Franklin-Myers said, “I guess we’ll see Sunday.”