Thursday Night Football gave the Cincinnati Bengals an opportunity to showcase their talent, establish themselves as a contender and hand their division rival a loss in front of a national audience.

Sadly, the spotlight also gave some a chance to insist that the New Orleans Saints' "Who Dat" came first, and that somehow the Bengals "Who Dey" cheer rips off the Saints or isn't as great or widely accepted.

NFL Network's Reggie Bush, a former Saints running back, made several remarks after the Bengals' 34-23 win about New Orleans' "Who Dat?" being more popular or coming before the Bengals' "Who Dey."

And Barstool Sports' Eric Hubbs wrote Friday (warning: NSFW language) that the Bengals just decided to steal it from the Saints.

From Hubbs:

First of all, where do the Bengals get off thinking they can just do the “Who Dey?” That’s been the Saints thing forever, you can’t steal it. The Bengals just woke up in 2018 and were like yeah we’re going to make this our thing now?

Hubbs also poked fun at Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, who tried to lead fans who stayed at Paul Brown Stadium to watch post-game NFL Network interviews in the entire "Who Dey? Who Dey? Who Dey think gonna beat them Bengals?" chant instead of just a repeated "Who Dey" that might've been easier for a group in concert.

But at least Dalton doesn't think "Who Dey" started this week.

The Enquirer's Carol Motsinger wrote in 2015 about the origin of "Who Dey."



Bengals beat writer Paul Dehner Jr. and staff photojournalist Kareem Elgazzar discuss the team's 34-23 win against the Baltimore Ravens. Kareem Elgazzar,