Super Bowl 2018: Brit Jay Ajayi realises dream as Philadelphia Eagles hold off New England Patriots 41-33 in thriller
JUBILANT Jay Ajayi draped himself in a British flag after Philadelphia won the Super Bowl for the first time in history on Sunday night in Minneapolis.
The British running back and his Eagles held off another spirited fightback from Tom Brady and Co to win 41-33 at US Bank Stadium.
Ajayi walked out on the Super Bowl last year in Houston when he attended in an ambassadorial role for NFL UK and missed the Patriots' stunning comeback from 28-3 down.
The 24-year-old from London vowed only to return to the Super Bowl if he was playing, and his prayers were answered on a dramatic night in Minnesota.
"We're the best team in the world," he cried after Philadelphia's pulsating win.
"We're Super Bowl champions. There's nothing to describe this. God is the greatest."
JT STUNNER Justin Timberlake lights up US Bank Stadium with brilliant Super Bowl halftime show
Nick Foles threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns to continue his remarkable run since replacing the injured Carson Wentz at quarterback in December.
Foles was named Super Bowl MVP and is now in line for a big contract elsewhere in the league rather than be Wentz's back-up when he returns from a knee injury next season.
From the second he hit Alshon Jeffery for a 34-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, the 29-year-old looked completely at ease with the big stage.
Brady, for his part, had 505 passing yards and three touchdowns but this time couldn't muster up any comeback magic to win a sixth Super Bowl ring.
There was little defence in the game with both quarterbacks and their offences in full flow, but the one sack that came proved key.
After Zach Ertz's touchdown to give Philadelphia a 38-33 lead with just over two minutes remaining, Brady was sensing yet another game-winning drive.
But he was strip sacked by Brandon Graham, the first time their defensive line had gotten to the 40-year-old quarterback all game.
In a game of over 1000 yards of offence and just one punt, that sack proved to be the key and a game-winner.
LATEST FROM SUPER BOWL 52
New England looked to be ceasing the initiative and there was a sense of de ja vu among the 67,612-strong at US Bank Stadium.
The Patriots had fought back from a 10-point half-time deficit and led for the first time 33-32 when Brady hit Gronkowski for a four-yard touchdown pass with just over nine minutes to play.
Philly marched down the other end and scored with a Zach Ertz touchdown pass from Foles to lead 38-33, but Brady was licking his lips at another late Super Bowl win.
Brady had gotten into a groove in the second half especially with Gronkowski, who had two touchdowns after half-time with just one catch for nine yards before Justin Timberlake rocked US Bank Stadium.
Philadelphia remained bold on offence, making some big conversions on fourth down to keep drives alive.
The biggest of all was arguably one of the plays of the season when Foles was on the other end of a touchdown reception.
On 4th and Goal, 26-year-old tight end Trey Burton took the snap and tossed a one-yard pass to Foles to the delight of the Philly-strong crowd.
It was the kind of trickery and bravery that got the Eagles this far and put them 10 points up at half-time.
Before that, LeGarrette Blount pounded in for a 21-yard touchdown run against the team with which he won the Super Bowl last season.
Ajayi ended with a modest 57 yards on just nine carries, but his change of pace provided Philadelphia with another dimension since his trade from Miami.
His rollercoaster 12 months began with walking out on the Super Bowl last year, saw him lose in London with the Miami Dolphins and then surprisingly get traded to Philadelphia .
But it ended in the perfect way possible for Ajayi, bringing the championship back to Philadelphia for the first time in their history.
