Cliff Avril Touchdown Video: Watch Detroit Lions End Strip-Sack Tebow for Six

Cliff Avril shut the door on any hope of a Tim Tebow miracle.

Up 24-3 at the half, the Detroit Lions had to be wary. They had been the underdogs in this position before. Down big at the half, the Lions had been able to beat the Minnesota Vikings and the Dallas Cowboys.

Moreover, the Lions knew that Tebow has a penchant for late-game heroics.

Avril made sure he didn't have a chance to bring this one down to the wire.

Coming around the edge of Orlando Franklin, Avril sacked Tebow, caused a fumble, recovered the fumble and ran for a touchdown. Those actions would look good on a box score, even more so on a single play!

The play was the beginning of the end for Tebow. Although it was clear that the Denver Broncos would lose his second start of 2011, Tebow compounded errors with a number of late-game sacks and a 100-yard touchdown interception to Lions CB Chris Houston.

Avril's day was much better. He added another sack, tackle and QB hit to his line and was part of a larger collective effort to harass Tebow from start to finish.

Michael Schottey is an NFL Associate Editor for Bleacher Report. A member of the Pro Football Writers of America, he has professionally covered the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions, as well as NFL events like the scouting combine and the Senior Bowl. Follow him on Twitter.