Joe Burrow has never yet faced the Saints in his NFL career, that doesn't mean he'll be in unfamiliar territory when he steps in the Caesars Superdome Sunday for a Week 6 showdown.
It's the same building he ran off the field victorious with a national championship to his name. It's also the field where he went viral with a cigar, though he shoots down the rumor that he actually got cited for it by police, "but there were definitely cops in there ready to go."
Still, he knows he doesn't have any time to smell the roses. His Cincinnati Bengals squad is coming to New Orleans with a 2-3 record, matching the Saints, and fresh off a close loss to the Ravens on Sunday Night Football.
He won't hesitate to call it a "must-win" game, though to him every game is a must-win, so that's nothing new.
"It's a place that a lot of good memories were made. But it's business trip. We're going in to win a game," he said. "So I'm excited to go back, excited to see all the fans that supported me. But they're not gonna be cheering, cheering for us this time."
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But he's far from the only player on the current Bengals roster making a trip back to New Orleans. Ja'Marr Chase is a New Orleans native and starred alongside Burrow in that national championship game. Vonn Bell and Trey Hendrickson are returning to the Saints after departing in free agency a year apart from each other. Both played in the Super Bowl against the Rams a year ago.
And a less-than-favorite son Eli Apple is also making his return. He'll almost certainly hear some boo birds, and not all because of his play, but the tweetstorm he unleashed about his former team's city late last season.
"This game means a lot to [Ja'Marr], just like it does for me. But, you know, at the end of the day, this is a must-win game for us," Burrow said, noting that both are hoping to have a lot of family and friends in attendance. "We've got to go out there and execute the way we need to and get this win so we can get back on the right track."
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Beyond that, there is one message Saints fans can send Burrow's way by the end of the game. When asked which stadium was the loudest in the league, he didn't have to think very long. "It's Arrowhead," the home of the Kansas City Chiefs.
In fairness, that could be driven in part by the fact that he heard the noise level brought by an NFC Championship crowd. But still, this time next week -- especially if the home fans cheer for the right players -- that answer could be different.