Crawford, Cowboys Welcome Higher Expectations

In 2014, the Dallas Cowboys exceeded all expectations when they went 12-4, won the NFC East for the first time under Jason Garrett and won a playoff game for the first time since 2009.

It was no great mystery why expectations were low going into the season. Tony Romo was coming off of back surgery, the second procedure on his back in an eight-month span, and no one seemed to know how the defense wouldn’t give up 150 points a game.

This year, the expectations are much, much higher, and defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford says the Cowboys are welcoming the challenge.

“Last year, I do feel we exceeded expectations,” Crawford said after the team arrived in Oxnard, CA for camp on Tuesday, per the Dallas Morning News. “I hope we do the same this year, even though I know people have higher expectations than last year. I still hope we exceed the expectations. That’s what we aim for in ourselves, to do the best that we can and hopefully the best is good enough.”