LANDOVER, Md. — Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton has been overwhelmed with all the well-wishers who have reached out to him. But on Sunday he knew he had to perform on the field.

In Denver’s 27-26 overtime win over Washington at Northwest Stadium, Singleton returned after he missed one game following testicular cancer surgery Nov. 7.

“Everybody is going to give me sympathy before the game,’’ Singleton said. “But you have to play on this defense or you’re not going to play. So that was my biggest stress all week was just being ready to play. We were able to do that. Obviously, guys made plays at the end when we needed to win the game.”

Singleton made his share of important plays. He had six tackles and a quarterback hit.

“He played well,’’ said Broncos coach Sean Payton.

Late in regulation, Singleton had a key pass breakup of Washington tight end Zach Ertz, once his teammate with Philadelphia.

“He was going to the middle,’’ Singleton said. “He usually sits down, but he kept going and I saw his eyes get big and I said, ‘I should probably take that guy.’ It worked out.”

As for Singleton, he didn’t deny there were some tears in his eyes. He said he had to keep from breaking down in a radio interview after the game.

Another close win

The Broncos won their ninth straight game. They have won seven of them by four points or less.

“I would say in the four years I’ve been here I don’t know if we’ve lived this way,’’ Singleton said. “I think this locker room believes. … Let’s just play every game a one-score game. It seems we’ll find a way to do it.”

Payton said that good teams find a way to win close game.

“I can recall the journey of good teams,’’ he said. “It involves games like that. Then you believe you can do it again.”

Hufanga active

Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga, who was listed as questionable earlier in the day due to an illness, played Sunday and had a team-high 13 tackles.

“At the end of the day, regardless, these guys that I step in this locker room with, they put everything on the line and for me not to (play) would be disappointing,” Hufanga said.

Inactive for the Broncos were outside linebacker Jonah Elliss, tight end Nate Adkins, defensive linemen Jordan Jackson and Sai’vion Jones and offensive lineman Geron Christian. Elliss was ruled out Saturday with a hamstring injury, and Adkins was ruled out Friday with a knee injury.

Inactive for the Commanders were quarterback Jayden Daniels, safety Darnell Savage, linebacker Ale Kaho, long snapper Tyler Ott, tackles Trent Scott and George Fant and defensive end Jalyn Holmes.

Briefly

The Broncos had just two sacks, but they passed 50 to get to 51 on the season. Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto had one sack to give him 10.5. Outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman, who grew up in the Washington area and played his first NFL game in the area, had the other. … Broncos tight end Evan Engram lauded the play of quarterback Bo Nix, who completed 29 of 45 passes for 321 yards and a touchdown. “Bo made incredible throws,’’ Engram said. … Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, in his first Broncos season, had his first interception. … Defensive tackle D.J. Jones left in the second half with an ankle surgery.