I don’t think anyone saw that coming.

Philadelphia defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22, in Super Bowl LIX, but nobody predicted it would be such a blowout. In fact, if you put any credence on the betting lines, the point spread going into the game Sunday night had the Chiefs a 1.5-point favorite.

Somebody forgot to tell the Chiefs.

It appeared that somebody also forgot to tell the Chiefs to “get off the bus, the game has begun.”

Philadelphia led 24-0 at halftime, and the Eagles were ahead 34-0 before Kansas City scored the first time, late in the third quarter.

The Philadelphia defense definitely did their homework and knew exactly what to do to contain Patrick Mahomes and the K.C. offense. The Chiefs were held to only 23 total yards in the first half but played better in the second half and managed to cover 275 total yards in the game. While the Eagles, led by star quarterback Jalen Hurts, amassed 345 total yards of offense.

I’m thrilled that Philadelphia won, especially since the game didn’t involve my teams, Buffalo and Dallas. Plus, I have a connection to the team.

I’ve written before that I’m related to Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, but admittedly we’re distant relatives. His grandmother and my grandmother were first cousins. However, his father Fran and I have had a great relationship over the years, and we still keep in touch.

Fran was the head coach of the Southwestern High School football team in a suburb of Jamestown, N.Y., our hometown. When I worked at WJTN radio, we would broadcast high football games each week and often featured the Southwestern Trojans. It was a thrill for me to be broadcasting a game in which my cousin Fran was coaching.

For a while, I was a referee for local school and youth league basketball and remember working a couple games when Fran was the head coach of the Southwestern Junior High basketball team. That was strange; getting yelled at by your cousin for what he thought was a bad call. I ran by the bench and said, “Fran, we’re cousins.” We laughed about it later.

When I left Jamestown to move to Tulsa, I had been the Baseball Chapel leader for the Jamestown Expos for nine seasons. During that time, I had invited Fran to speak at chapel many times, so when I left, I asked him to take over as chapel leader, and he continued in that role for many years.

So, that’s my connection to Nick Sirianni and his family. That’s why I’m so happy that the Eagles won, and that family could celebrate together the success of a young man from the small city of Jamestown, N.Y., who, by the way, will be inducted into the Chautauqua County Sports Hall of Fame next week. Following in the footsteps of his father, and his two brothers, Mike and Jay, who have been inducted into the hall of fame ahead of him.

Besides, after watching that game, I must be honest, I don’t think the Buffalo Bills could have beat Philadelphia that day.

GOODELL ALSO FROM JAMESTOWN

Nick Sirianni wasn’t the only Jamestown native prominent at the Super Bowl in New Orleans. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is also a native of my hometown. Goodell was born in Jamestown in 1959. His father was U.S. Senator Charles Goodell.

However, Goodell did not graduate from Jamestown High School, nor Southwestern High School, because his family moved to Bronxville, N.Y., when he was young.

Interestingly, Goodell graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pa., and Fran Sirianni’s oldest son, Mike, has been the head football coach at Washington and Jefferson for 22 years.

Quite a connection.

TULSA BEACON RADIO

Tune in to “Tulsa Beacon Weekend” radio show every week, featuring interviews with local and national level guests, talking about everything from politics to family issues. My guest this week will be Ron Woods, senior pastor at The Assembly at Broken Arrow. The show airs on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CST on 970am KCFO.