While we watched Seattle's destruction of Denver's supposedly unstoppable offense and, for now, Peyton Manning's legacy, in Super Bowl XLVIII, some obvious questions emerged.

How long will it take for the Dallas Cowboys to compete with Seattle and San Francisco for supremacy in the NFC and can they accomplish it before 33-year-old Tony Romo is over the hill?

In general, there are reasons for optimism. After all, we saw Kansas City improve from 2-14 to 11-5, Philadelphia from 4-12 to 10-6, Carolina from 7-9 to 12-4 and Arizona from 5-11 to 10-6.

DeMarcus Ware was one of several Cowboys players on defense who regressed under a new system last season. AP Photo/James D. Smith

Only Arizona failed to make the playoffs.

Kansas City, Philadelphia and Carolina used the impetus from new head coaches and quarterbacks to change their fortunes, while Carolina used the momentum created from winning five of its final six games in 2012.

Your Cowboys ain't replacing head coach Jason Garrett or quarterback Tony Romo. And based on recent history, you can't trust the Cowboys to add considerable help through the draft, even though well-respected Will McClay is leading draft day duties these days instead of director of scouting Tom Ciskowski.

It's not that Ciskowski did a poor job, but owner Jerry Jones and vice president Stephen Jones seemingly started tuning him out, which is among the reasons the Cowboys would pass on Sharrif Floyd, the fifth player on their draft board when he fell to them at 18.

The Cowboys' biggest issue is that based on the current state of the NFC, their blueprint for winning won't get them to the Super Bowl.

Uh-oh.

Just like the Broncos, the Cowboys have built a team that revolves around offense.

Think about it.

Romo, Tyron Smith, Dez Bryant, DeMarco Murray, Jason Witten, Travis Frederick and Terrance Williams are among their best players. Smith, Bryant and Murray made the Pro Bowl.