Green Bay Packers: 5 Ways the Packers Can Avoid Championship Hangover

The Green Bay Packers are the defending Super Bowl champions, but now they're back to work and hungry for more.  

The Packers are at the bottom of the mountain again. At least that's what head coach Mike McCarthy told his team. McCarthy doesn't want a feeling that the Packers are defending anything, but rather, it's a new journey, and they are a hunter again.

Here are five ways the Packers can avoid a championship hangover: 

No. 1: Stay Hungry

The Green Bay Packers don't get much hype, and they even just won the Super Bowl, but I am sure that's just what Mike McCarthy wants. The Packers are a team that flies under the radar. The Packers feed off their every play, and off each other to go out and win every game.

The Packers know how to play football. They don't give up, they hit hard, are unselfish and just have fun playing every Sunday. 

Last year in route to their fourth Super Bowl, and run to get there as the NFC's sixth seed, they were the hunter. They beat the Eagles and Michael Vick, then beat the NFC's best Atlanta Falcons, and then division rival Chicago Bears.

This year, they are the hunted, but Mike McCarthy has told the players to think that they are at the bottom of mountain and just like any other team.

The Packers got beat up last year, but hung in there, and just when they were in danger of missing the playoffs, the team made 53 guys one team. The Packers put their egos aside.

That will be key this year again in order to repeat and to keep the Lombardi Trophy in Titletown. 

No. 2: Stay Disciplined

Mike McCarthy has guts. McCarthy may not always called the right plays, but knows how to get a team playing at it's highest level. 

Last season, McCarthy took a team that had 16 players on injured reserve and led them to a Super Bowl title. McCarthy had a team that committed 18 penalties against Chicago early in the season. 

The turning point was against New England last season. The Packers were coming off a rough loss to Detroit, and now were facing the Patriots without Tom Brady.

So what does McCarthy do? McCarthy disciplines and motivates the Packers, and they almost beat the Patriots with Matt Flynn at quarterback. After the opening kickoff when McCarthy pulled the onside kick and recovered it, the Packers knew that life wasn't over without Rodgers.

The next week, McCarthy's game plan embarrassed the New York Giants, and then you know how the story goes. A Super Bowl title a few weeks later after a team that nearly collapsed but pulled it together and competed as one.

Credit McCarthy for a job well done. 

No. 3: Stick to the Game Plan

The Packers are one of the most consistent teams in the league. The Packers pound the ball, air it out and play hard-nosed defense. Their special teams have even improved from year's past. 

Dom Capers is a master at defense, getting the right players to run his 3-4 scheme. Capers made Woodson look like a new player. Capers made Clay Matthews a ferocious beast off the corner feasting on quarterbacks. Capers made B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett hole fillers in the middle. Capers made Tramon Williams a cornerback who beat coverages and had an new eye for the ball. Capers made Nick Collins a hard-hitting safety with a nose for the ball.

On offense, all the credit goes to McCarthy. McCarthy transformed the running game when Ryan Grant went down, and made James Starks a back to reckon with in the playoffs. McCarthy made Rodgers elite and accurate. 

Special teams used to be bad. Now they are much better. Mason Crosby has strengthened his leg—scary right? Tim Masthay finally started pinning opponents deep into their own territory and limiting their returns. Now, the Packers finally have a speed freak for a returner in Randall Cobb. 

Whether Green Bay is pounding the ball, Rodgers is under center or in the shotgun, the Packers are always a threat to score. The defense also is a threat to score off turnovers with their aggressive play. 

No. 4: Stay Healthy

The Packers had 16 players on injured reserve. That's a lot and they still won the Super Bowl. Imagine what they could do when healthy. Ryan Grant, Jernichael Finley and Morgan Burnett—to name a few—are all back. 

Staying healthy will be key for the Packers because let's face it, that means a more explosive team. 

No. 5: Ignore the Statistics

The New England Patriots were the last team to win the Super Bowl back-to-back and to win a playoff game after winning the Super Bowl. 

Do the Packers care? Nope. Aaron Rodgers said, "It's a new season. I think that's how I look at it. New opportunities, new challenges. Every year is different. It's different guys, different dilemmas, different adversity you have to deal with." according to Penn Live.

Stay humble and keep to these five keys, and the Packers might find themselves in the Super Bowl again come next February.