Based on the first game, Denver will spread the yards around. They got 441 yards of offense in a 41-14 win over Oakland in the season opener, and get a key weapon back this week against San Diego when receiver Brandon Marshall is reinstated from his suspension.

The Broncos didn't need him in the opener. The running game, with three tailbacks sharing the load, was effective. The passing game was brilliant, led by rookie receiver Eddie Royal and quarterback Jay Cutler.

"Defenses won't be able to key on one person, take one person away," receiver Darrell Jackson said. "They have to play honest, and that will open up a lot of lanes and give a lot of opportunities to everybody."

Now that Marshall, who caught 102 passes last year, is back, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan will have many options. He showed he isn't afraid to feature Royal, a rookie, in the game plan. The game plan against Oakland was to match up Royal against former Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Royal had nine catches for 146 yards.

Marshall was watching the game at home, and realized that Royal's breakthrough performance will be a benefit to the offense, and him. Teams won't be able to blindly roll coverage Marshall's way, because Royal can make plays.

"I can't ask for a better receiver on the other side," Marshall said.

Jackson, who caught a 48-yard touchdown against Oakland, was excited about the receiving depth going forward.

"We're deep, we're talented," Jackson said. "We just wanted to pick up the slack and hold it down until our No. 1 receiver got back."

The running game has always been effective under Shanahan, and this year it appears three backs will share the load. Selvin Young started, but before getting three carries in the fourth quarter of a blowout, he had only four carries.

Andre Hall led the Broncos with 10 carries and 61 yards, but he ceded one of the responsibilities expected for him. Hall was the goal-line and short-yardage back through the preseason, but Michael Pittman was given that role in the season opener. He scored a pair of touchdowns.

"Right now it's just playing your role," Pittman said. "I think we're going to keep it like this all year."

Young said he didn't mind the division of roles among the tailbacks.

"I like being coachable, I like being a guy that's going to go out and do what's asked of him," Young said after the game. "Today that's what was asked of me and I'm happy with that. We got a great victory."

SERIES HISTORY: 97th meeting. Broncos lead series, 52-43-1, with a 34-13-1 record at Denver. The Broncos have scored 2,014 points in the series, and San Diego has scored 2,010. The Chargers have beat Denver four times in a row, including two lopsided wins last year.