ARLINGTON, Texas -- If you're looking for a team to pick to win Super Bowl XLV, you'd be wise not to pick the Green Bay Packers.
Yes, the Packers beat the Steelers 31-25 to win Super Bowl XLV about 13 hours ago. Yes, the Packers are built for long-term success under Ted Thompson, the best general manager in the NFL. Fifteen of the 22 starters they used to win Super Bowl XLV are 27 or younger, including quarterback and game MVP Aaron Rodgers (27), Clay Matthews (24), B.J. Raji (24), Greg Jennings (27), Nick Collins (27) and Tramon Williams (27).
But just because the Packers won Super Bowl XLV with a young, incredibly resilient, extremely well-coached squad doesn't make them an automatic favorite the following year. Part of what makes the NFL great is an unmatched formula that turns spreads the joy and misery and disappointment from city to city on a yearly basis. For a number of reasons -- harder schedule, lower draft picks and complacency, among others -- teams struggle and fail often when it comes to sustaining success.
The past five Super Bowl champions are 0-3 in the postseason the following year. The 2005 and 2009 Steelers missed the playoffs altogether. The 2007 Colts and 2008 Giants lost playoff openers at home. And the 2010 Saints lost in the wild-card round at Seattle, the NFL's first 7-9 team to make the playoffs.
The last defending Super Bowl champion to win a playoff game was the 2005 Patriots. The last team to successfully defend its title was the 2004 Patriots. The last NFC team to defend successfully was the 1993 Cowboys. And, believe it or not, the last Super Bowl champion from the NFC to even win a playoff game the following year was the 1997 Packers.
There have been 10 different NFC champions the past 10 years. If the Vikings, Lions, Falcons, Redskins, 49ers or Cowboys win next season, it would be 11 different champions in 11 years.
"Success is the hardest part of this business," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "Handling success comes at different levels, and obviously we're at the highest level today as Super Bowl champions."
Packer fans, enjoy the record 13th NFL title and fourth Lombardi Trophy. But beware the rocky road that lies ahead. Viking fans, mourn the fact the Packers now have as many Super Bowl wins as the Purple have Super Bowl losses. And mourn the fact the Packers have been there three times since the Vikings last went in the 1970s. But remember that this is the NFL, and what goes up usually comes down quickly. And vice versa.
