'Team Hippie' Takes 'Amazing Race 9'

Best Friends BJ And Tyler Edge Out 'Frat Boys' Eric And Jeremy

(CBS)  When co-anchor Rene Syler asked Eric and Jeremy what happened to them during the competition, Jeremy conceded: "Oh, man. The brains (the hippies) came in (at the flag challenge, which wrapped up the race), and that's where we just failed miserably. They got the brains. Obviously, we can run faster than them. But, man, then it comes to brains, me and Eric are just lost right there."

Added Eric: "We just blew it. We had a chance and we really just messed it up. We can't blame anybody but ourselves. Good job for the hippies."

Ray said taking part in the race "strengthened our (his and Yolanda's) relationship. We get an opportunity to see the entire world with someone you care about and go places you dream of. And places you don't even dream you ever will be. And be with someone that you care about. I mean, that's an amazing experience in and of itself."

Yolanda agreed, saying: "It's weird when you really want to be in the front and then you're not in the front. But you just have to focus on the good times, how fun and exciting the race is and just stop worrying about coming in first all the time."

"The race definitely does that," Phil said. "With the relationships, it definitely tests them. Obviously, emotionally, (the teams) are going to a place that they've never been to before. We saw that with these guys, certainly.

"I just love when we have that real contrast. Eric and Jeremy, BJ and Tyler, Ray and Yolanda. The three teams that we had at the end are so completely and utterly different. From the best legs ever on 'The Amazing Race' (he meant Yolanda's) to two guys who are completely consumed with finding hotties around the world (Eric and Jeremy) to two other guys who haven't seen a shaver for goodness knows how long (BJ and Tyler)."

For details on how the final episode played out, click here.

For details on the race's conclusion, click here.

To learn how the final three teams reacted in the episode to the race's end, click here.

To visit the official Web site of "The Amazing Race 9," click here.

As that site put it: "After nine countries, 59,000 miles, and two close calls with elimination, best friends BJ & Tyler won a seesaw battle against rivals Eric & Jeremy to claim the one million dollar prize. From Japan to Alaska and back to Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, the two Teams traded positions as they had throughout the Race until BJ pulled ahead of Eric at the final Roadblock to score his Team a victory. After a series of navigational woes, dating couple Ray & Yolanda finished a distant third."

BJ Averell, 26, is an online tutor from Los Angeles. His best friend, Tyler MacNiven, is a filmmaker from San Francisco.

Jeremy Ryan is a 26-year-old valet, and his friend Eric Sanchez is a 27-year-old waiter. Both live in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Science teacher Yolanda Brown-Moore, 27, and attorney Ray Whitty, 31, both of Chicago, were dating when "Race" was taped. Now, they're engaged!