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NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue told the Dallas Cowboys recently at the conclusion of a minicamp to work hard because he may see them at the NFL's last game, the Super Bowl. Roster parity and the salary cap have enabled teams to go from worst to first in a division seven times in the past five years. The Cowboys in the Super Bowl? The Broncos, Rams and Patriots made similar jumps in the past five seasons.
Who will celebrate a worst-to-first campaign this year? Here is a look at each of the candidates:
 One oddsmaker sees the Cowboys overtaking the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFC East division title. The success of the Cowboys ultimately falls upon the development of Quincy Carter at quarterback. Carter looked more comfortable in December as the starter, but it may be too much to ask him to carry the team into the playoffs. Defensively, the Cowboys have improved significantly, adding tackle La'Roi Glover, who had 50 sacks in the past five seasons, and linebacker Kevin Hardy. Coach Dave Campo wants to be more aggressive on defense, and those acquisitions should improve the team's ability to create turnovers.
 The Colts hope Tony Dungy rights the wrongs of a defense that allowed 357 yards and 30 points a game last season. All Dungy has to do is use his two-deep zone scheme to pull the defense from No. 29 into the teens and shave more than 10 points a game off the opponents' side of the scoreboard. Peyton Manning doesn't need much more. He runs the NFL's No. 2-rated offense.
 The Titans should bounce back from a 7-9 season now that quarterback Steve McNair and halfback Eddie George have had healthy, productive offseasons. George has been working with Jerry Rice's trainer to improve a shortened stride caused by a toe injury that plagued him last year. McNair is the healthiest he has been in years heading into a training camp. The defensive line should be revitalized by the addition of first-round choice Albert Haynesworth, who should attract enough attention inside, freeing up ends Jevon Kearse and Kevin Carter.
 The Chiefs finished last season with four victories in their final five games, and coach Dick Vermeil has a good feel about this team. Quarterback Trent Green has been able to throw in the offseason for the first time in three years and has been accurate. Johnnie Morton gives Green an 80-catch, 1,200-yard go-to receiver. Priest Holmes led all NFL running backs last year with 1,555 yards. And the defensive line is helped by the drafting of tackles Ryan Sims and Eddie Freeman.
 Saints coach Jim Haslett, who is entering the final year of his contract, has enough confidence in his restructured squad to think he can take a run at the Bucs in the new NFC South. Quarterback Aaron Brooks is stronger. The receiving corps is faster with newcomers Dante Stallworth and Jerome Pathon joining Joe Horn. And running back Deuce McAllister might produce more big plays than traded halfback Ricky Williams.
 A case can be made for the Bengals as a sleeper fifth-place team to make a surprise run. They have young offensive players at the skill positions in Corey Dillon, Peter Warrick and Chad Johnson. Last season, Dick LeBeau's defense ranked a respectable ninth. And the Bengals enter this season with the league's fourth-easiest schedule. But the Bengals haven't made the playoffs since 1990. At least there has been one constant in the NFL.
John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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