New England, the top seed in the AFC with a 13-3 record, and New Orleans, No. 3 in the NFC, haven’t lost in the second half of the schedule. Like Green Bay (15-1), both have dynamic, sometimes unstoppable offenses led by magnificent quarterbacks, bolstered by a deep and dangerous group of receivers.

All three also have so-so defenses that often require Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Tom Brady to win shootouts. That’s a difficult way to prosper in the postseason, particularly when playing against a rugged, versatile defense such as the 49ers, Ravens and Texans possess.

“A lot of it is working on what we need to work on; working on things that have been a problem for us, that if they come up again we need to handle better,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said, not mentioning in particular a penchant for falling into deep holes. New England rallied from 17-0 and 21-0 deficits to win its past two games.

Remember, also, that New England has lost its past three postseason games, including at home to the Ravens and Jets the past two years.

Behind Brees’ record-setting performances, the Saints soared past all eight opponents at home, but if they can handle the Lions next Saturday night in the Superdome, then they must head to San Francisco. And if they get by the formidable Niners, who rode a stingy, big-play defense to a 13-3 mark, a date at potentially frigid Lambeau Field is likely.

That is, if the Giants don’t start partying like it’s 2007. They were seeded fifth that year, but closed the regular season with a close loss to unbeaten New England. Then the Giants knocked off division winners Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay before shocking the Patriots for the championship.

New York won three of its last four, including impressive defensive efforts in wins over the Jets and Cowboys to grab the NFC East title. Defense was an issue for much of the season, but with the pass rush suddenly reborn, the Giants can be dangerous.

“Different guys, different teams. I’d love to have the same ending as the ‘07 team,” Giants guard Chris Snee said. “We certainly have the capability of doing that, as we have shown. I’m happy just to be in the playoffs. We’ll take it from there. I don’t spend too much time reminiscing about that glorious time in our life.”

Baltimore, like New Orleans and Green Bay, went 8-0 at home and is an entirely different team on the road (4-4). Still, with some help from outside — ironically, the AFC North rival Steelers are the most likely to provide it — the Ravens might not have to leave the Inner Harbor to get to Indianapolis in February.

JANESVILLE, Wis. — A Janesville man is hoping to make history by becoming the 14th member of the Green Bay Packers Fan Hall of Fame.Joe Kuhar is one of 10 finalists selected, and it only takes one look at his basement to understand why he made the cut.”I just love football,” Kuhar said.His love of football, specifically the Green Bay Packers, has taken over his basement, which his friends and family have nicknamed the Packers Hall of Fame South.”Every day, things change down here (in the basement). Monday after a football game, I’m on my computer,” Kuhar said.He spends several hours keeping statistics and creating handmade photo rosters, which now cover his ceilings.

Most of the memorabilia is autographed by Green Bay legends.”This is an autographed helmet with Brett Favre and Bart Starr,” Kuhar said.Kuhar even asked to try out for the team in 1960. The day he met Bart Starr in Janesville in 2010, he said they shared a laugh over his rejection letter.”I told him how I could have been a teammate of his because he was playing for the Packers at that time, and he got a big kick out of that,” Kuhar said.Four of Kuhar’s five children are Packers fans.”I invite people over even when he’s not here. I say, ‘Do you want to see my dad’s basement?’” said his youngest daughter, Larae Kuhar.She wrote the letter nominating her father for the Green Bay Packers Fan Hall of Fame.”I think he deserves to win, not just because of what he has but because of his dedication. He deserves it,” she said.Kuhar said he’s proud of his collection and that it would be one of the highlights of his life to be honored by his favorite team.”As soon as I found out, I started calling everyone in my family and all my friends, giving them the heads up to vote for me,” Kuhar said.Joe and his wife are celebrating their 53rd wedding anniversary on Tuesday, and he said she supports his “Hall of Fame South” as long as it doesn’t creep up the staircase and into the rest of the house.Voting for the Packer Fan Hall of Fame begins on Jan. 1, 2012, on Packers.com. The winner will be announced at an event at Lambeau Field on Valentine’s Day.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers reported Tuesday that nearly 250,000 shares of stock have been purchased in their latest offering.In response to the demand, the Packers organization announced it will expand the stock sale by adding 30,000 shares to accommodate the interest.“The support from our fans has been outstanding and we appreciate their enthusiasm,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. “We continue to receive interest in the offering, and this increase in the number of available shares will help ensure that we are able to accommodate all those who want to become shareholders.”This is the fifth time the Packers have offered stock in the organization. This latest offering will continue until Feb. 29, 2012 or until the maximum number of shares has been sold.Proceeds from the offering will go toward the expansion of Lambeau Field, a $143 million project that includes 6,700 seats and new video boards and will be complete for the 2013 season.

The business at hand for the unbeaten Green Bay Packers is a chance to lock up the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs Sunday and ensure the road to Super Bowl XVLI travels through Lambeau Field. But quarterback Aaron Rodgers can’t resist looking ahead to the Christmas night showdown against the Chicago Bears.

With a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, the Packers (13-0) will ensure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. After that, they would love to make sure the Bears are home for the playoffs.

“I’ll just say that I think, as players, we would probably like to finish this thing out if we get a chance,” Rodgers said Wednesday of the team’s goals for the stretch run, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “And (have) a chance to maybe keep the Bears and the Lions out of the playoffs like the Bears tried to do to us last year.”

The talk in Green Bay is about a run at 16-0 and then 19-0. Green Bay can become the first defending Super Bowl champion to start the next season 14-0 if it beats a reeling Kansas City Chiefs team Sunday. The debate after that is how to handle playing time in the final two games that will have no impact on playoff seeding.

The Bears went to Lambeau Field for the regular-season finale last year. When the game began, Lovie Smith’s team already was locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC. The Bears played their starters throughout and went for the victory. The Packers, who had to win to get into the playoffs, prevailed 10-3. That loss came back to haunt the Bears three weeks later when Green Bay beat them again in the NFC title game at Soldier Field.

For the Bears (7-6) to keep their fading playoff hopes alive, they need to defeat the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday before they can worry about the Packers.

bmbiggs@tribune.com

Twitter @BradBiggs