Paul’s pick

A duel between rookie quarterbacks does not often lead to a shootout, but the Giants are 29th in the league in defense and the Cardinals are 30th. Health of Arizona running back David Johnson (ankle, questionable) is key here. Saquon Barkley is back, though, and that makes all the difference.

Giants 27, Cardinals 20

Marquee matchup

Cardinals LB Chandler Jones vs. Giants RT Mike Remmers

Jones has 4.5 sacks in his first six games and is on pace for a fifth consecutive double-digit sack season. The Patriots did not want to pay big money to keep Collins, and the Cardinals are getting a nice return on their investment. He gained 25 pounds last year, bulking up to play defensive end in a 4-3 front and has slimmed down again this year, back as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 front. Bigger or smaller, Collins is a game-wrecker, and Remmers cannot let Collins add on too heavily to his 81.5 career sacks.

“He’s just got extremely long arms, he uses his hands really well, is able to reach and knock the ball down,’’ Remmers said. “He’s very physical and explosive off the line of scrimmage. Really he’s got a little bit of everything and he does it very well.’’

Four downs

It’s a small world: There have always been sub-6-foot quarterbacks in the NFL, but a runt of the litter going No. 1 in a draft is a sign of the times. Starting a QB who stands just 5-foot-10 is not for everyone, but size does not matter the way it used to, and the Cardinals are all-in on rookie Kyler Murray.

“Obviously he’s not as big as Daniel [Jones],’’ linebacker Alec Ogletree said. “I think he does a god job of seeing over the line. He’s able to get the ball out. Small is kind of one of those things that’s irrelevant. It’s all about how you fit in the offense and how well you work it. The league is kind of definitely trending toward that way. I guess they are sort of pioneers of it.’’

To the rescue: The Cardinals have given up 16 touchdown passes and do not have a single interception. Opposing quarterbacks have a passer rating of 121.8 on the Arizona defense. Does this mean Jones and the Giants will throw it all over the place? Well, the Cardinals played the first six games without cornerback Patrick Peterson, who was suspended for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances. Peterson has been reinstated and will make his season debut in this game. Asked where Peterson was missed the most, Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said, “Your best player? Every down.’’

Tight spot: Sure, Evan Engram is coming off a sprained knee, but he says he feels great and, if you have him on your fantasy football team, here is some free advice: Play him. The Cardinals are the worst defense in the league in stopping opposing tight ends. T.J. Hockenson (6-131, one TD), Mark Andrews (8-112, one TD), Greg Olsen (6-75, two TDs), Will Dissly (7-57, one TD) and Austin Hooper (8-117, one TD) have all ravaged the Cardinals. Engram is more than capable of doing the same, or more.

Fitz factor: Eli Manning was the No. 1 pick in the 2004 draft, going to the Chargers before the draft-day trade to the Giants. The No. 3 pick that year was Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver out of Pittsburgh. Fitzgerald, 36, is younger than Manning, 38, and in 2016 the two were co-winners of the prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Fitzgerald leads the Cardinals with 35 receptions for 427 yards and two touchdowns.

“We know Murray counts on him, the first read out there he’s definitely looking at Larry,’’ cornerback Janoris Jenkins said.