The Pittsburgh Steelers will look to get Le'Veon Bell going this week against the Minnesota Vikings.

PITTSBURGH — The memories of last season’s scorching start and inglorious fade remain fresh for the Minnesota Vikings.

There’s nothing they can do about it. Even their impressive opening victory over New Orleans in Week 1 only led to more questions about whether their dominant performance was real or a mirage.

Repeating it on the road Sunday in Pittsburgh against a team that figures to play into January and beyond would go a long way toward quieting the doubters.

“I think we’re an improved version of that team that started 5-0, as a whole,” tight end Kyle Rudolph said. “But especially on offense.”

The Vikings certainly looked it while lighting up the Saints . Dalvin Cook set a club rookie record by running for 127 yards in his debut. Sam Bradford completed 27 of 32 for 346 yards and three scores. The group that sputtered through a forgettable second half last fall appears considerably more dynamic.

It was the kind of performance the Steelers (1-0) were looking for but didn’t get in Week 1.

Sure, they beat the Browns because they always beat the Browns , but penalties, an ineffective running game and lack of rhythm outside of wide receiver Antonio Brown left the “Killer Bs” decidedly less potent.

The Steelers managed just two offensive touchdowns against Cleveland, though Heinz Field has a way of curing whatever seems to be bothering quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and company.

Pittsburgh is 9-1 in home openers under coach Mike Tomlin and averaged 30 points a game at Heinz Field in 2016 when Roethlisberger played.

“We need to bring back that home field, Heinz Field kind of mystique,” Roethlisberger said.

Some things to look for as the Steelers try to keep Minnesota winless in Pittsburgh since 1995.

ENCORE, ENCORE

T.J. Watt spent his first Sunday in the NFL putting on the kind of performance typically reserved for older brother J.J. The youngest of the three Watt brothers in the league became the third player in NFL history to have two sacks and an interception in his first professional game.

Watt downplayed his splashy start, pointing to mistakes such as a 15-yard personal foul penalty for a late hit as evidence he still has a ways to go. Maybe, but Watt’s immediate impact offered tangible proof Pittsburgh’s long search to find an heir apparent for James Harrison may finally be over.

OUTLAW

When the Steelers acquired tight end Vance McDonald from San Francisco late in camp, it seemed to signal a change was imminent.

Maybe not.

Jesse James caught both of Ben Roethlisberger’s touchdown passes against the Browns, the first time a Pittsburgh tight end has done that since Heath Miller in 2013. James remains a work in progress as a blocker, but his size (6-foot-7) makes him an enviable red zone target and a matchup problem for defenses.

“The game that he played last week was awesome,” Roethlisberger said. “All the players knew what we had in Jesse James. Coach sometimes wants to get guys fired up and maybe it worked.”