Without Bradford, Minnesota struggles

PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger threw two first-half touchdown passes, Le’Veon Bell ran for 87 yards and the Steelers kept Minnesota in check during a 26-9 victory Sunday.

Roethlisberger hit Martavis Bryant for a 27-yard score in the first quarter and flipped a shovel pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster that the rookie turned into a 4-yard score. Roethlisberger finished 23-for-35 for 243 yards and the two scores as the Steelers (2-0) improved to 10-1 in home openers under Mike Tomlin.

Bryant caught three passes for 90 yards and drew a 51-yard pass-interference penalty that set up Smith-Schuster’s first NFL touchdown that put the Steelers up 14-0. Bryant feigned rolling dice during his end-zone celebration, his first touchdown since returning from a year-long drug suspension.

“I came a long way,” Bryant said. “My whole year, I put a lot of work in. I’m just focused on getting better as a team and just going out and playing hard on Sunday.”

Minnesota (1-1) played without quarterback Sam Bradford, who sat out with a left-knee injury. Replacement Case Keenum struggled to get anything going, throwing for 167 yards on 20-for-35 passing.

Rookie Dalvin Cook ran for 64 yards, but Minnesota failed to generate any real momentum.

The offense that hummed at home with Bradford at the controls operated in only fits and starts, thanks in large part to 11 penalties for 131 yards.

“I thought we showed some good things but obviously didn’t get off to a great start and kind of shot ourselves in the foot quite a few times,” Keenum said. “When other things aren’t clicking, it’s unfortunate.”

Minnesota’s only touchdown came on a 1-yard plunge by fullback C.J. Ham that cut the Vikings’ deficit to 17-9 early in the third quarter. Kai Forbath missed the extra-point try. Pittsburgh responded with a 10-play, 74-yard drive that ended with the second of Chris Boswell’s four field goals with 4:59 left in the third.