Paul’s pick

Bill Belichick got his NFL coaching start with the Giants and continues to hold the franchise in high regard, so perhaps there is some mercy in his heart. It is hard to envision rookie Daniel Jones getting more than 10 points against this defense and difficult to imagine Tom Brady not getting at least 30. So, in what scenario do the Giants keep it close?

Patriots 34, Giants 9

Marquee matchup

Patriots OLB Jamie Collins vs. Giants LT Nate Solder

Collins has 4.5 sacks and will line up all over the line of scrimmage, and there will be plenty of snaps when he is directly over Solder. That is a gulp-inducing scenario, given how Solder has played this season. Solder had a rough outing against the Vikings — he was called for two holding penalties (one was declined) and he allowed two sacks. He started 95 games for the Patriots, who let him walk in free agency in 2018, and the Giants made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league.

This spring Solder had surgery to clean out bone spurs in his ankle, but he has not missed a start. “I haven’t been playing this whole season very well,’’ Solder said after the loss to the Vikings. “I felt like myself today at times, which I was happy about. So I think we have to build off of that and continue to improve.’’

Four downs

Sheer domination: This might be the best defense Belichick has ever put together in New England. The Patriots lead the league in total yards per game, yards per play, passing net yards per game and per play, sacks, interceptions, quarterback hits, third-down efficiency and red-zone touchdown percentage. The Patriots have allowed an NFL-low 34 points and have at least five sacks in four straight games, a franchise record. Opposing quarterbacks have not thrown a touchdown pass on the Pats but have thrown 11 interceptions.

“We’ve had our moments,’’ Belichick said, before waxing poetic about anything and everything having to do with the Giants offense.

Best-laid plans: The good news is all five of the Giants starting offensive linemen have yet to miss a snap this season. The bad news is the quartet of Saquon Barkley, Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram and Golden Tate have not been on the field together for even a single play, as injuries have robbed the Giants of their most skilled playmakers.

“It’s tough, because it’s hard to reach your potential when you don’t have everybody out there,” Tate said.

Night moves: Tom Brady is good every day and every night, but he is nearly unbeatable in this spot. Brady is 11-1 in Thursday games — three of the victories have come on Thanksgiving — and his only loss on Thursday night came against the Chiefs in 2017. He has 28 touchdown passes and only five interceptions playing on Thursdays.

No autographs, please: Rookie Oshane Ximines was 5 years old when Brady won his first Super Bowl. Now Ximines, with two sacks in his first five NFL games, is tasked with laying a hit on Brady and admittedly starry-eyed but promises not to be awestruck — something the young Giants have to guard against.

“Tom Brady, man … he’s a great player, the greatest of all time. Being in his presence is going to be great. It’s something I’m going to tell my children about and it’s something, I’m going to wear it with honor, playing against him and being in his presence. But we still got a job to execute and things like that. Still got to go out there and play football.’’