Royal three months later is closing in on the first 1,000-yard receiving season by a Broncos rookie in team history. He needs 96 yards Sunday night to reach that milestone.

"It'd be great, but I just want to win . . . ," said Royal, who already is the franchise rookie leader in receptions (80) and touchdown catches (five). "I have a few individual goals, but most of my goals are team goals. And the first one is to make the playoffs."

Royal started the season so fast - he had nine catches for 146 yards in the opener before the Week 2 meeting with San Diego - it's hard to believe he still was going through an adjustment phase in the Broncos' first meeting with the Chargers.

The second-round pick noted he feels "a little more mature" for the second go-round.

"I kind of know what to expect now. My head's not spinning as much. I'm a lot more comfortable with the playbook and with Jay (Cutler) and the guys around me."

Royal has five plays of 50-plus yards this season, two on special teams. The latest was a 71-yard run on an end-around Sunday in the loss to Buffalo.

And with teammate Brandon Marshall already crossing the 1,000-yard threshold, if Royal follows suit, they'll become the first Broncos tandem to do so since Rod Smith and Ashley Lelie in 2004.

"I really didn't know what to expect," Royal said of his rookie season to date. "I wanted to play as well as I could and help the team as much as I could. But it's going well. If we make the playoffs, then it will be like I expected."

Religious experience

In a story published Thursday in The Gazette, former Broncos tackle Matt Lepsis recounts a drug problem that consumed him last season.

Lepsis, who is attending Dallas Theological Seminary, told the newspaper that painkillers after a 2006 knee injury led to daily use of drugs that he wouldn't name.

The former player admitted to practicing 10 to 15 times last year under the influence and playing high the first six games of the season.

"I look back on it and it was really foolish of me," he told the newspaper. "There were definitely times when I wasn't even really there. I was physically there, but I was in another place mentally."

Lepsis reportedly kicked his drug habit and found God with the help of former teammate Jason Elam. Lepsis, an 11-year veteran player in Denver, retired immediately after the 2007 season.

He's currently working toward perhaps becoming a pastor or chaplain, while he and his wife are expecting their third child.

"I'm glad I didn't stay on that path," Lepsis said. "I have a purpose now."

Broncos linemen were reticent to speak about their former teammate's journey publicly.

"We're glad that he's happy," right guard Chris Kuper said.

Plugging away

Tony Scheffler has two touchdowns this season - both dating to the first San Diego game in Week 2.

Those rare scoring plays are part of another eventful year for the highly talented but enigmatic Broncos tight end.

He twice has been shut out since the bye week after missing three games because of a groin injury. But he also had 12 catches in a two-week span.

"I've tried breaking it down in a number of different ways," Scheffler said. "I feel pretty good and I want to be a big part of things. It just so happens that some weeks I am and some weeks I'm not.

"As a player that's been here three years and wants to contribute, and when I do contribute, it seems like the team does well, it's frustrating not to be part of it some weeks."

Scheffler had 36- and 20-yard catches against Buffalo last weekend. San Diego, on average, yields six catches and 68 yards to tight ends.

"It's just one of those things you have to keep chugging along," Scheffler said. "It's a long year, and, hopefully, this week in a big game I can be part of things."

Act II

It will be difficult for Marshall to top his opening act in Sunday's encore, given the 18 catches he made in the first meeting with San Diego.

Marshall effectively worked underneath extensive three-deep zone coverage and beat top Chargers corner Antonio Cromartie on some man-to- man, too.

"I hope they double me, triple me, put the whole team on me . . . ," Marshall said when asked what he expected this week in response. "We've got some weapons, man. So I hope they pay a lot of attention to me and leave a few other guys one-on-one."

Trash talk continues

When Cutler said this week he's sure he isn't beloved by the Chargers, he apparently was right.

Matt Wilhelm, one of the players who was part of the taunting toward the Broncos quarterback at the end of last year's game at Qualcomm Stadium, on Wednesday called Cutler "a punk."

"There's no love lost in this locker room for Jay Cutler," Wilhelm told The San Diego Union-Tribune, adding Cutler and Marshall were trash talking and making gestures throughout last year's game.

Midstream change

The Chargers changed defensive coordinators seven games ago, and under Ron Rivera, they are allowing only 18.1 points per game and 317.1 yards, down from the 24.8 and 371.6 under Ted Cottrell.

"We weren't getting better on that side of the ball," San Diego coach Norv Turner said, calling the decision "very difficult."

"It was the same things over an extended period of time," he added. "I felt it was the right thing to do. I believe, through the changes and things we've done defensively, we have gotten better."

Injury report

* The Broncos listed 16 players on their injury report but every one as having fully participated in its Christmas Day practice. Left tackle Ryan Clady and tight end Daniel Graham had sat out Wednesday's workout with ankle issues. Seven others had been limited before Thursday.

* For San Diego, defensive tackle Igor Olshansky (illness) and Jamal Williams (foot) returned to practice fully. The status of linebacker Brandon Siler (foot) and wide receiver Malcom Floyd (lung) might be in jeopardy for Sunday's game.

He said it

"From what he's saying about my quarterback, I have a little problem with him. But my biggest complaint with him is that he looks like Ringo Starr, you know? I'm just not feeling his haircut."

Jacques Cesaire, Chargers defensive end, speaking to a San Diego columnist, about Cutler.

INFOBOX

Super-charged

* San Diego has won five of the past seven meetings at Qualcomm Stadium in the series, including the last two games by a 71-23 score.

Dec. 24, 2007 San Diego 23, Denver 3

Dec. 10, 2006 San Diego 48, Denver 20

Dec. 31, 2005 Denver 23, San Diego 7

Dec. 5, 2004 San Diego 20, Denver 17

Sept. 14, 2003 Denver 37, San Diego 13

Dec. 1, 2002 San Diego 30, Denver 27, OT

Oct. 21, 2001 San Diego 27, Denver 10