The Lions have only been working out together for a couple weeks Tracy Walker Jersey , but two free agent additions are already making a big impression."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Detroit Lions NewsDetroit Lions NotesDetroit Lions AnalysisDetroit Lions TransactionsDetroit Lions Game RecapsBreaking NewsIntroducing the 2019 Detroit Lions Draft Class! 脳Detroit Lions NewsDetroit Lions QuotesDetroit Lions free agent signings already making big impressionNew,164commentsThe Lions have only been working out together for a couple weeks, but two free agent additions are already making a big impression. EDTShareTweetShareShareDetroit Lions free agent signings already making big impressionGreg M. Cooper-USA TODAY SportsTrey Flowers and Frank Ragnow didn’t spend a ton of time together at Arkansas. As a true freshman, Ragnow only got to see Flowers’ senior year, in which the defensive end racked up a modest 68 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks.But Flowers apparently made a huge impression on him. On Tuesday, Ragnow spoke with the media, and when a reporter asked about reuniting with Flowers, his eyes lit up. “I’m telling you, I can’t speak highly enough about (him)” Ragnow. “I came in as a freshman and he was a senior and I’ve never seen a guy—doesn’t say much, you’re not going to hear much from him, you’re not going to get much from him, he may frustrate you guys (media) a little bit, but I’m telling you, he gets into the weight room, he gets into wherever he is, and he works. And he just puts his head down and he works, and he’s a dog. So I’m very excited to be back with him.”This appears to be a common theme among the players the Lions have plucked from free agency this year. Fellow former Patriot Danny Amendola has already made an impression in the Lions’ wide receiver room. Just two weeks into offseason workouts, Kenny Golladay has been inspired by Amendola’s work ethic. “His work ethic is crazy, through the roof Kerryon Johnson Jersey ,” Golladay said. “And he wants to push everyone. When you’ve got a guy like that, a vet guy like that—a savvy vet—you really just want to follow up under him. I’m not going to let him go out there and outrun me, but at the same time, he’s going to try to get the best out of everybody. And, especially, I know he wants to get the best out of all the receivers, so I appreciate it.” This all speaks toward the culture change we’ve heard so much about since Matt Patricia arrived in Detroit last year. The intense practices. The high demands on the players. The strict rules. Amendola and Flowers appear to be key pieces in the “lead by example” puzzle. Changing a culture is never easy and the additions of Flowers and Amendola, among others, will certainly help ease the transition. But, ultimately, the question is whether the culture change is worth it. Will it translate to wins? Will this big endeavor pay off in time for Patricia to save his job? DETROIT 鈥?A season of ups and downs for the Minnesota Vikings comes down to this: beat Detroit and Chicago and they're in the playoffs.First up are the banged-up Lions, who have already been eliminated from postseason contention, but with so much at stake, the Vikings can't afford to look too far ahead.More Vikings coverageVikings post-Super Bowl 2019 mock draft roundupVikings complete coaching staff with Maalouf, DennisonMinnesota Vikings 2019 impending free agents primerPhotos of the Week: 1/27/19 – 2/2/19Former Vikings Pro Bowl QB Wilson dies at 60"We know what we've got to do at this point. We know how we've got to play," running back Dalvin Cook said. "There's little time for error right now. We just have to go out there and play clean football and win football games."Minnesota won just one of its first four games this season, and the Vikings haven't come close to matching last year's 13-3 record. There will be no division title 鈥?Chicago already clinched that 鈥?but if the season ended now, the Vikings would be in the playoffs, so they still have all sorts of opportunities ahead of them.First, they'll try to take care of business in Detroit.While Minnesota (7-6-1) has been underwhelming this season Frank Ragnow Jersey , the Lions (5-9) never really looked like contenders. They dropped their first two games, traded receiver Golden Tate and have now lost a handful of key players to injuries. Rookie running back Kerryon Johnson, defensive end Ziggy Ansah and wide receiver Marvin Jones are all on injured reserve.Detroit hasn't scored more than 22 points in any of its last eight games."Obviously the playoffs are, that's the goal and that's what you're shooting for every single week," said Matt Patricia, the Lions' first-year coach. "The thing that's different, I think, is that every week you don't walk into the room and talk about playoffs. You just kind of walk in and talk about the game that week. … The fact is, we still have to go play a really good Minnesota team this weekend that's coming off a huge win."The Vikings聽beat Miami 41-17聽last weekend.A few more things to watch when the Lions host the Vikings:STACKS OF SACKSThe Vikings set a franchise record with 10 sacks in a win over the Lions聽earlier this season聽, and they're coming off a nine-sack performance against Miami. They lead the league with 47 sacks."You know that they're going to come out there, they're game-planning against what we've done the first time," said defensive end Danielle Hunter, who's tied for second in the NFL with a career-high 14陆 sacks. "We'd expect to see more max protection, them running the ball and all that. Stuff like that."Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has been sacked five times or more in 16 games of his 10-year career, and seven of those were against the Vikings.STREAKStafford missed 19 games in his first two seasons while plagued by injuries. He's started every game since, a streak of 126, not including the playoffs."It means a lot. Well documented, first two years, (I) missed a bunch and I wanted to prove to my teammates, this organization Marvin Jones Jersey , myself, everybody, that I could be out there for extended periods of time," Stafford said.Stafford has been limited in practice recently because of back issues, but he pushed back against the idea he should sit now, with the playoffs out of reach."I spend all offseason and all season working hard to play in games with these teammates and for this organization," he said. "(I) take no games for granted and go out there and play whenever I feel like I can."READY TO RETURNThe first of five career punt returns for touchdowns for the Vikings by Marcus Sherels came on Sept. 30, 2012, at Detroit. Last week against the Dolphins, Sherels had a 70-yard return and totaled 116 yards on five returns."We kind of challenged him a little bit this last week at being more aggressive," coach Mike Zimmer said.Detroit has activated returner Jamal Agnew off IR. He was an All-Pro last season.ANOTHER OPTIONWith opponents frequently sending double teams at Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, the Vikings have needed other pass catchers to step up for quarterback Kirk Cousins.Aldrick Robinson, who was signed as a free agent two weeks into the season, has shown some potential. His 40-yard touchdown reception against the Dolphins gave him five scores in 10 games. He's reached the end zone on nearly 30 percent of his 17 receptions.MARK OF FAILUREFrom 2001-12, the Lions had double-digit losses 10 times in 12 seasons. It hasn't happened since that 2012 season, but Detroit needs to win its final two games to avoid it this year.MINNESOTA (7-6-1) at DETROIT (5-9)Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FoxOPENING LINE 鈥?Vikings by 3 陆RECORD VS. SPREAD 鈥?Minnesota 7-6-1, Detroit 8-6SERIES RECORD 鈥?Vikings lead 73-39-2LAST MEETING 鈥?Vikings beat Lions 24-9, Nov. 4LAST WEEK 鈥?Vikings beat Dolphins 41-17; Lions lost to Bills 14-13AP PRO32 RANKING 鈥擵ikings No. 13 Darius Slay Jersey , Lions No. 25 (tie)VIKINGS OFFENSE 鈥?OVERALL (15), RUSH (29), PASS (10)VIKINGS DEFENSE 鈥?OVERALL (4), RUSH (13), PASS (4)LIONS OFFENSE 鈥?OVERALL (24), RUSH (24), PASS (21)LIONS DEFENSE 鈥?OVERALL (13),RUSH (16), PASS (11)STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES 鈥?Vikings can clinch spot in playoffs with win and losses by both Washington (at Tennessee) and Philadelphia (vs. Houston). Lions already eliminated from playoff hunt. … Minnesota sacked Detroit's Matthew Stafford 10 times in previous meeting. … Vikings have lost six of last nine games at Ford Field, including game vs. Giants in 2010 that was relocated when Metrodome collapsed during snowstorm. … Minnesota's 10 sacks vs. Lions set franchise record. Vikings also had nine sacks vs. Dolphins last weekend, making them second team in NFL since 1990 to have two games of nine-plus sacks in same season. Jaguars did it in 2017. .. Vikings lead NFL with 47 sacks and are first in league in third-down defense (28.8 percent conversion rate) and second in red-zone defense (42.2 percent touchdown rate). … Minnesota's Kirk Cousins needs 87 yards passing to reach 4,000 for fourth straight season and post fifth such season in Vikings history (Warren Moon in 1994 and 1995, Daunte Culpepper in 2004, Brett Favre in 2009). … Detroit's Kenny Golladay led team with seven receptions for career-high 146 yards last weekend. He has 1,005 yards receiving on season. … Lions trying to avoid first season with double-digit losses since 2012. Detroit lost at least 10 games 10 times in 12 seasons from 2001-12, but has not done so since. … Lions put rookie RB Kerryon Johnson on injured reserve this week. DE Ziggy Ansah, WR Marvin Jones and G T.J. Lang are also on IR. … Detroit RB Zach Zenner trying for third straight game with rushing touchdown. … Fantasy tip: Could be good week to have Minnesota defense, given sack total from last meeting and Detroit's offensive problems. Lions have not scored more than 22 points since Oct. 21.