Regarded as underdogs, the Philadelphia Eagles pulled off a major upset against the reigning Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots, on Sunday night, winning the game 41-33.

After running a neck-and-neck game, the Eagles pulled ahead in the fourth quarter and defended their lead despite a last-second "Hail Mary" play by star Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

Sunday's victory in Minneapolis is Philadelphia's first Super Bowl win. The team previously lost the Super Bowl in 1981 and 2005.

"We knew we had something special," Eagles running back LeGarrette Blount said following the win.

The Eagles' quarterback Nick Foles was named Most Valuable Player of the game after leading his team to a victory that was viewed as nearly impossible after the team's starting quarterback Carson Wentz suffered a major injury in December. 

No anthem kneeling, but protests outside

All eyes were on the NFL players at the beginning of the game to see whether any team members would kneel during the US national anthem in protest of police violence and racism in the US. 

Although no players kneeled during pop star Pink's rendition of the anthem, hundreds of activists outside the stadium protested police brutality in freezing Minnesota temperatures .

Read more: How Donald Trump turned a simmering NFL controversy into a movement that splits the country

Police detained 17 activists who blocked a light-rail line carrying fans to the Minneapolis stadium. Black Lives Matter and other groups staged rallies in the city as well. Around 300 people gathered in a park and peacefully protested outside a security gate at the stadium.

Read more: US teen athletes join NFL stars in kneeling against racism

Timberlake honors Prince at halftime show

Pop star Justin Timberlake performed the game's halftime show, paying tribute to Prince — a rock star and Minnesota native, who passed away in 2016. Prince played one of the most critically acclaimed musical performances in the history of Super Bowl halftime shows.

Timberlake's show included his hits "Rock Your Body" and "Can't Stop the Feeling," but was plagued with audio issues that made it difficult to hear the singer.

Timberlake previously performed during the Super Bowl game in 2004, where he accidentally ripped off a portion of singer Janet Jackson's outfit, exposing her breast.

rs/jm (AP, Reuters)