TEMPE — Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett knows a thing or two about beating the Houston Texans.

Posting a career 8-1 mark against Houston, highlighted by a 5-1 record as a starter, Brissett has been an absolute thorn in the Texans’ side over the years. And Houston fans haven’t forgotten it.

During that stretch, Brissett completed 62.6% of his throws for 1,224 yards and eight touchdowns to two interceptions. He also carried the rock 28 times for 244 yards and two scores.

This version of the Texans, however, is far from the majority of bad Houston teams Brissett has faced throughout the years.

“I know it’s going to be loud there, that’s for sure — that’s probably the only thing. It’s definitely been different defenses that have come through there and different players,” Brissett said Wednesday. “I don’t think anybody on the team was there when I was playing them. It’s a different team.”

You can say that again, Brissett.

For just the third time in what will be his 10th appearance (seventh start) against the franchise, Brissett will face a Houston team fighting for a playoff spot as opposed to a top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Sitting second in the AFC South at 8-5 only behind the Jaguars (9-4), the Texans are riding a five-game winning streak over some legit competition, including Jacksonville, Buffalo, Indianapolis and Kansas City.

Only once has the Houston defense given up 20 points or more during that stretch. After losing five of their first eight games, the Texans have positioned themselves as a team not many want to face down the stretch and into the playoffs.

On top of pacing the league behind the fewest points (16) and yards (266.3) allowed per game, the Texans are inside the top 10 for fewest rushing yards (94.3) and passing yards (172) given up through 13 games.

For a team that has been forced to rely heavily on the passing game due to an inefficient run game and game flow, those numbers are not what you want to see if you’re Arizona.

And that’s before mentioning Paris Johnson Jr.’s out status this week (and potentially longer) as he recovers from a reported MCL sprain. In his place will be undrafted rookie Josh Fryar.

Arizona being down its best lineman this week is especially rough given the pair of Houston pass rushers in Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.

Accounting for more than half of the team’s 36 sacks this year, Hunter (11) and Anderson (10.5), who the Cardinals did extensive work with ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, have been a consistent issue for opposing offenses.

“The first thing that stands out with him, elite intangibles,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said Wednesday about Anderson. “When you hear (former Alabama head coach Nick Saban) talk about him, he didn’t talk about many guys like that. Then obviously just the skillset. He’s powerful. He’s explosive. He’s smart. He knows how to play the game. He knows how to set up things.

“(He knows) when he can throw his fastball and when to throw his curve ball. Then he is very ball aware. He takes the ball away. Then in the run game, when you watch the run game, it’s very impressive. He’s a really good player.”

For a Cardinals team that is allowing a 43.4% quarterback pressure rate (third-most in the league), 171 total pressures (fifth) and 29 sacks (seventh) since Brissett took over in Week 6 (eight games), Sunday’s tilt is shaping up to be a long one for Arizona.