Packers go from underdogs last season to top dogs this season

• Reprints

ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, JAN. 7-8 - FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2011, file photo, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and head coach Mike McCarthy bump fists on the sidelines during a preseason NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland. The big names are the same, but the Packers are a different team than the one that won the Super Bowl last season. Instead of going on the road to win their way in as a wild card, they'll have home-field advantage in the NFC. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)

Updated: February 16, 2012 8:18AM

It’s a totally different scenario for the Green Bay Packers this time.

Last season, the Packers didn’t make the playoffs until the final week of the regular season. They had to play on wild-card weekend, had to play three road games to reach the Super Bowl and were out of the spotlight.

This season, the Packers are the defending Super Bowl champions heading into their divisional-round playoff game Sunday against the New York Giants at Lambeau Field. They’re the glamor team of the NFL after a 15-1 regular season. They’re the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They had a bye last week and will have home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

And Aaron Rodgers is the likely most valuable player of the league after one of the greatest seasons an NFL quarterback has had.

Can they play as well as favorites as they did as underdogs?

‘‘We have to [have the same] sense of urgency; that’s what separated us last year from other teams,’’ Rodgers said. ‘‘We had to play to get in, and we kept that
urgency. We need to find that .  .  . and get ready to make a similar run.’’

But there’s an X-factor that can’t be ignored this week: the Packers’ emotional state after the drowning death of offensive coordinator Joe Philbin’s 21-year-old son, Michael. His funeral was Friday. Philbin hasn’t been with the team all week and might not be there Sunday.

The emotional impact was evident when Packers coach Mike McCarthy had to pause to compose himself while discussing the incident with the media Wednesday.

‘‘The reality of this just gave
everybody a punch in the heart to let you know the reality .  .  . ,’’ McCarthy said before pausing, ‘‘how fortunate to be where we are.

‘‘Everybody’s feeling it. I don’t have the words to speak on it
emotionally.’’

It’s unlikely the Packers will overlook the Giants. They know the Giants took the same road to winning the Super Bowl after the 2007 season the Packers took last season. And the Packers needed a late field goal by Mason Crosby to beat the Giants 38-35 on Dec. 4 in the Meadowlands.

‘‘Those guys are relentless at getting after the passer,’’ Rodgers said. ‘‘Those holes we saw a few weeks ago .  .  . there haven’t been those mistakes in their defense. It’s going to be a tough challenge.’’