ENGLEWOOD – The Broncos have made it clear. They’re looking to end up with the No. 1 playoff seed in the AFC.

Entering Sunday night’s game at Washington, the Broncos are 9-2 and a half-game behind 10-2 New England for the top seed. The Patriots play Monday at home against the New York Giants before having their bye week.

With the Broncos coming off their bye week, Head Coach Sean Payton said he talked to the team on Monday about the importance of getting the No. 1 seed. That would result in a first-round bye and then the AFC Championship Game being played in Denver if the Broncos were to win their divisional playoff game at home.

“The goal obviously is the end game,’’ Payton said. “You are in a position where (players) can kind of see that if you are able to capture the No. 1 seed, you eliminate a game (needed to win in the playoffs) and that is significant.”

Denver’s players are openly talking about wanting to get the No. 1 seed.

“I still don’t think we get the respect we deserve,’’ said linebacker Alex Singleton. “That’s OK. We still got six weeks to go prove that, and we know where we want to be. Obviously, that one seed is something we want to go get and get to attack these next six weeks (left in the season).”

The Broncos are in great shape to win the AFC West. With Kansas City (6-6) losing 31-28 on Thursday at Dallas, the Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) are the only other team in the division with a realistic shot at the title.

Singleton, Surtain ready to return

Singleton and star cornerback Pat Surtain II remain on track to return Sunday.

Singleton was back at practice as a full participant Wednesday after undergoing testicular cancer surgery Nov. 7 and missing one game. He again was a full participant Thursday.

“Super amazing,’’ defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said after Thursday’s practice at Broncos Park about Singleton’s quick return. “Obviously for him, he’s smiling, he’s in good spirits. It’s good having him back. He’s so smart. Helped me with the game plans each week. But again an amazing story, and he’s so blessed to be healthy and ready to play football again.”

Surtain is expected to play against the Commanders after missing three games due to a left pectoral strain. After being limited in practice Wednesday, he was a full participant Thursday.

Joseph was thrilled with the job Kris Abrams-Draine and rookie Jahdae Barron did in a tag-team effort to replace Surtain. The Broncos went 3-0 without the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

“Having those guys play meaningful reps and to get Pat back, we have no worries,’’ Joseph said.

Adkins sits out, Elliss limited

Broncos tight end Nate Adkins again sat out practice and likely won’t play against the Commanders.

Adkins has missed the last three games due to a knee injury. For each of those three games, he was replaced by Marcedes Lewis, elevated from the practice squad to be the No. 3 tight end. Lewis is out of elevations, so he would need to be signed to the 53-man roster to play Sunday. Evan Engram and Adam Trautman are Denver’s top two tight ends.

The Broncos listed outside linebacker Jonah Elliss as limited in practice Thursday for the second straight day due to a hamstring injury. Elliss sat out the Broncos’ 22-19 win over Kansas City on Nov. 16, their last game before the bye week. It remains uncertain whether he will play at Washington.

Broncos prepare for wet weather

With there being a 60% chance of rain for Sunday’s game at Northwest Stadium, the Broncos are making preparations.

At Thursday’s practice, Denver did wet ball drills. Afterward, offensive coordinator talked Joe Lombardi talked about the challenge of it possibly raining and brought up the Broncos’ ugly Week 3 game at the New York Jets, which they won 10-9 in a driving rainstorm.

“You think back to the Jets game last year, which was just a really tough environment,’’ Lombardi said.

The temperature at kickoff Sunday is expected to be around 40 degrees. If there is rain, Lombardi said there becomes a debate on whether or not to become “a little more conservative” because “turnovers become more likely as you get more aggressive.”

Reducing penalties pivotal

Lombardi didn’t hesitate in saying what has been a point of emphasis with the Broncos coming off their bye week.

“Dropping our penalties was a big thing,’’ he said.

The Broncos entered Week 13 leading the NFL with 93 penalties.

“Obviously, the pre-snap penalties are something we can’t do,’’ Joseph said. “That takes no talent at all. That’s just discipline and focus.”

As for other penalties, Joseph said “most of them are competitive,” and he does like the aggressive nature of his defense. But he said there still needs to be more discipline in some areas.

Cornerback Riley Moss has committed 11 penalties this season and his 158 penalty yards allowed are the most for any defender in the NFL.

Joseph said Moss needs to play “with less hands” while “finding a ball.” But Joseph said he also must make better coverage calls “to put some pressure off some players on third-and-longs.”

Happy for Lutz

Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi was thrilled to see kicker Wil Lutz sign a three-year extension Monday, $16.1 million contract extension.

“Super happy for him, super happy for his family,’’ Rizzi said. “It’s well deserved.”

Rizzi lauded Lutz’s ability to bounce back on the rare occasions he does miss a kick.

“You have to have a level of headiness about you at that position, you really do, and I think that probably is kind of his superpower,’’ Rizzi said.