Flowers could see Lions DE bloom

This is a strange one: Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah has started 10 games this season and does not have a sack. He had 30 sacks in his first three NFL seasons, including 14.5 in 2015.

Is this the day Ansah finally breaks through with a sack? He lines up against Ereck Flowers, who has struggled this season at left tackle. Flowers has been flagged for 13 penalties and last week was beaten badly by Cowboys pass-rusher Benson Mayowa for a brutal sack of Eli Manning, who fumbled.

“Like a lot of the players on our offense, there’s a lot of area for improvement, and he’s certainly no exception,’’ offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan said of Flowers.

Given the issues scouts had about his technique — specifically the use of his hands — the speculation was Flowers would be better suited in the NFL as a right tackle. The Giants made him a firstround draft pick to play him at left tackle and to block defensive ends such as Ansah, who might not be sackless after this game. Flowers should be helped by the return of left guard Justin Pugh, who returns after missing five games with a sprained knee. Matthew Stafford’s blind side is protected by LT

Taylor Decker, a rookie first-round pick from Ohio State who has played every snap this season. He will go against DE Olivier Vernon, who played well last week versus the Cowboys but had a streak of five consecutive games with at least one sack snapped.

“He’s coming along,’’ Vernon said of Decker. “He’s been able to keep Stafford clean. He’s a rookie, but at the end of the day, he’s getting this experience, which is a good thing for him.’’

Shane Vereen was cleared from the concussion protocol and will play versus the Lions. The running back missed nine games with a torn triceps and lasted only three plays last week against the Cowboys.