Southern hospitality: Bengals in line for warm welcome in road matchup vs. Saints
The New Orleans Saints are known for their celebratory chant of "Who Dat," but there's a concern Sunday the chant will be swapped out with a hearty "Who Dey."
That's the rallying cry for the Cincinnati Bengals (2-3), who will travel to New Orleans with a few familiar names to fans of both the Saints and college football's LSU Tigers, whose stadium stands 81 miles northwest of New Orleans.
Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, who led LSU to its first national championship in over a decade following the 2019 season, headline the Bengals' attack. They are joined by a pair of former Saints, safety Vonn Bell, and defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
A former Saint, cornerback Eli Apple, is all but guaranteed to not be extended a warm greeting after tweeting in January 2022 about how much he dislikes Saints fans.
Saints head coach Dennis Allen addressed the potential for a warm welcome for the Bengals on Sunday and challenged Saints fans to show where their allegiance lies.
The game marks the first game for Burrow and Chase in Louisiana since the two helped lead LSU to a victory over the Clemson Tigers in the national championship game on Jan. 13, 2020.
LSU went 15-0 that season, the best record in program history. Burrow set numerous team records, including a season mark for touchdown passes (60). Chase recorded 84 catches for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns, including nine catches for 221 yards and two touchdowns in the championship game. Burrow finished 31-for-49 for 463 yards and five touchdowns.
The Saints (2-3) drafted Bell in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft and Hendrickson in the third round of the draft the following season. Bell left New Orleans following the 2019 season with Hendrickson following suit the next year.
All four players had significant roles in transforming Cincinnati into a major player in the AFC. Hendrickson set the franchise record for sacks in a season last year with 14. Bell has three interceptions through the Bengals' first five games of 2022.
It was Burrow and Chase that stole the spotlight a year ago, with Burrow going 366-of-520 for 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns with 14 interceptions. In Chase's first year with the team, he caught 81 passes for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns as the team won their first AFC Championship since 1988.
Apple, meanwhile, allowed the winning touchdown to Cooper Kupp that sealed the 2022 Super Bowl for the Los Angeles Rams.
Burrow and Chase have fond memories the last time they played in New Orleans. If Allen's fears are correct, they'll make more on Sunday.
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