NEW ORLEANS -- Oh my, this was a thing of beauty.

Needing a burst of momentum.

Needing a big play.

Needing a freakin’ touchdown in the worst way, because the New Orleans Saints were coming back.

The Detroit Lions gave the ball to Jameson Williams on a reverse and he kicked it into a different gear.

It was like the moment on an aircraft carrier when a jet first up and flames shoot out the back.

Woosh! Gone in a blink.

GAME STORY: Detroit Lions barely hold on after big lead to beat Saints, 33-28

He took off, sprinting through the Saints’ defense and dove head-first into the end zone. It was the key play in a 33-28 victory.

Like a little kid on the first day of summer camp, running off a dock and diving into a lake.

Splish, splash.

Williams had built up so much speed, he had so much momentum, that he started rolling into the end zone and came up dancing.

Yes, he got some great blocking. But you only need to block for a blink when you have someone running with that kind of speed.

What have we been saying all season?

If Williams can figure it out, if he can get on the field and stay there, if the Lions can figure out a way to use him, he’s going to be a difference-maker.

And that’s what this moment was.

He was a difference maker in this game that went from blowout to nailbiter to shootout.

To relief.

And I have just one question: Why can’t the Lions get him the ball more?

A dominating start

The Lions came into this game with a simple plan: establish the run – no, that sounds too simple and soft.

This was far more violent than that. This was far more guttural. The Lions basically said: We got Jonah Jackson back. We love our offensive line. We love our running backs, and we are gonna own this line of scrimmage. We are gonna ram it down your throats.

So the Lions ran the ball on six of their first seven plays.

MONARREZ: Detroit Lions blew hot start, lucky to survive game against inferior Saints

Touchdown Lions.

The plan was working. The Lions were everywhere, making plays all over the place, taking over this stadium.

It was complete domination.

They were able to run the ball and get a pass rush, create turnovers.

Remember a long time ago – way back to Thanksgiving – when Lions fans were freaking out because of a bad game against Green Bay?

All those concerns seemed to disappear (briefly) in the first quarter.

And before you knew it, the Lions had a 21-0 first-quarter lead.

The first-quarter stats were completely one-sided.

Total net yards: Lions 148, Saints 33.

Passing yards: Lions 69, New Orleans minus-4.

“Let’s go Lions!” the fans chanted.

And the Saints looked completely rattled.

Wait, what just happened?

Then, well, nothing came easy in the Big Easy.

Suddenly, the Lions offense disappeared.

Suddenly, the Lions defensive problems reappeared.

Suddenly, the Lions couldn’t stop anybody. Once again.

And all the good feelings turned into concerns.

All the answers turned into questions again:

What’s up with this Lions team?

How in the world do you blow a 21-0 lead?

How does a team that looked unstoppable for three straight drives, turning them all into touchdowns, suddenly go flat?

And predictably, the Saints fought back.

But in the end, the Lions made enough plays, and had built up a big enough lead, to hold off the Saints.

Alas, they won. They went into a place that is extremely hard to play and won.

That’s all that matters in the big picture.

They cleaned up their turnover problems.

They made just enough plays.

And they won their ninth game of the season.

It wasn't pretty.

And it wasn't exactly easy in the Big Easy.

But it was a win.

MORE SEIDEL: Detroit Lions aren't a finished product, good or bad. And that's a good thing.

Contact Jeff Seidel at jseidel@freepress.com or follow him @seideljeff.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions make plays when it matters most in 33-28 win over Saints