MINNEAPOLIS: Outsiders Philadelphia Eagles defeated Super Bowl holders New England Patriots 41-33 to land American football’s greatest prize, the Vince Lombardi Trophy, in Minneapolis.

The Eagles were underdogs throughout the NFL playoffs but managed a remarkable turnaround after finishing last in their division a year ago.

Quarterback Nick Foles, who nearly retired after a poor 2015 season with St Louis Rams, outshone Patriots counterpart Tom Brady, a five-time Super Bowl champion.

Foles, named the game’s most va,uable player after throwing three touchdowns, said: “I felt calm. We felt confident coming in and we just went out there and played football.”

The Eagles, who won three championships in the pre-Super Bowl era, had lost both their only two previous Super Bowl appearances, including to the Patriots in 2005.

#############