Ron Jenkins/Associated Press

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has big expectations for his team entering the 2018 regular season.

During an appearance on Showtime (h/t Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk), Prescott said: "We're going to be an exciting team this year. A lot of new faces. I think you're going to find we have a lot of new guys on this team, within this organization, that can make plays. We plan on surprising a lot of people."

Dallas went 9-7 last season and missed the playoffs.

The 2017 campaign was a disappointing one since the Cowboys had gone 13-3 and won the NFC East the previous season.

Perhaps the biggest reason for the decline was the fact that Dallas was without superstar running back Ezekiel Elliott for six games due to suspension.

The Cowboys will have the benefit of the 2016 leading rusher for an entire season in 2018 barring injury, and that should make the Dallas offense a handful for opposing defenses to handle.

Prescott also took a step back in 2017 after being named Offensive Rookie of the Year the previous year.

He fell off in every major category, finishing the season with 3,324 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

His supporting cast will look far different in 2018, as wide receiver Dez Bryant was released and future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten retired.

In the search for potential replacements, the Cowboys signed receivers Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson and selected wideouts Michael Gallup and Cedrick Wilson in the draft.

Those new players will be joining holdovers Cole Beasley and Terrance Williams to form a group of pass-catchers that has plenty to prove.

Last season, Dallas' defense ranked eighth in the NFL in total defense and 13th in points allowed. There is no shortage of talent on that side of the ball. The group is led by defensive end Demarcus Lawrence and features a linebacker corps that includes Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith and 2018 first-round pick Leighton Vander Esch.

If the offense doesn't progress as hoped, the Cowboys' underrated defense may be what possibly pushes Dallas into the postseason.