Alex Singleton Is the NFL's Tackle Machine, and the League Finally Noticed

Broncos Country, we've been saying it for years. Alex Singleton is the heartbeat of this defense, and now the rest of the NFL has finally noticed.

Our Take: This award is overdue. Singleton isn't the flashiest name on this defense, but he's the one who calls the plays and cleans everything up, and the tackle machine deserves the spotlight.

According to the Broncos' official site, the NFL announced Wednesday that Singleton is the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after his 19-tackle performance in the 30-16 win over the Cardinals. Team writer Aric DiLalla reports it's the first Player of the Week honor of Singleton's career, and that the 19 tackles were the most by any NFL player in a single game this season. He also added a tackle for loss, a sack and two quarterback hits.

Sports Illustrated's Broncos site notes Singleton enters Week 8 leading the league with 87 total tackles, well ahead of the 49ers' Fred Warner at 71. He's also the second Broncos defender to win the award this season, joining safety Talanoa Hufanga, who earned it after Week 3.

What to watch: Sunday's home game. Denver's defense will need Singleton reading plays early and getting bodies to the ball again. If he keeps stacking games like this one, the conversation shifts from Player of the Week to All-Pro.

Sources: Denver Broncos, Sports Illustrated