The defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens face an uphill struggle to repeat last year’s success if recent history is any indication.

The last team to win back-to-back Super Bowl titles was the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004, and it’s been eight years since a reigning champion won a playoff game the next season.

The Green Bay Packers, who play at Baltimore on Sunday, know a little something about the challenges that follow a championship.

The Packers won the Super Bowl three years ago and the next season lost in their playoff-opening divisional game against the New York Giants.

“I would say 2011 was much more difficult than 2010,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “I know we won a lot of games (15-1 during the regular season), I just felt it was a tougher ride than 2010.”

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