One of the coldest Super Bowls ever is fast approaching, and it puts the No. 1 seeds from each conference against each other for just the second time in the last 20 years. Some of these players are the superstars. Some aren't. Either way, here are the five players from each side that determine who will be lifting the Vince Lombardi Trophy come Sunday night. 

Seattle Seahawks

CB Richard Sherman

Sherman's already got every eye on him from his “interview” with Erin Andrews. As loud as he may be, though, he's got the talent, skill, and knowledge to back it up. Sherman studies the plays and the players, and he's definitely been watching Denver's Demaryius Thomas. His transitional speed, especially for his 6'3" frame, is impeccable. He has 20 interceptions in the last three years thanks to his long arms, and had 8 this season. He is the Legion of Boom, and will demand attention on Sunday just as he has from the media all week. 

TE Zach Miller

As excellent as their defense is, Seattle will need more than 23 points to win this game. With all the focus on Marshawn Lynch and Percy Harvin, Miller could be a huge surprise in the Seahawk’s passing game. He's quietly put up the 3rd-most yards on Seattle and tied his career high with five touchdowns in 2013, and will need to be used for his team to keep up with the Broncos. 

DT Brandon Mebane

Mebane doesn’t get enough credit for his part in making up the number one defense in the league. He's Pro Football Focus' third-best defensive tackle in the NFL, and could neutralize Denver's much-improved rushing game.  

CB Byron Maxwell

Known as the "other" cornerback next to Richard Sherman, Sherman himself has been singing Maxwell's praises throughout his Monday Morning Quarterback articles. Maxwell has stepped in for injured players and slowly made a name for himself. Being a championship team is not half as much about talent as it is survival, and Maxwell proves that mantra.

QB Russell Wilson

A stark, calm and collected answer to Sherman, Wilson is always one to watch. It's easy to forget how young this dual-threat quarterback is, and it may also be easy to forget that Wilson first learned his skills at the Manning Passing Academy as a sophomore in high school. Those skills have culminated into an impressive 63.1 completion percentage and 101.2 passer rating this season. Nine years after his first encounter with Manning, we'll see Wilson battle his teacher and see what he learned.

Denver Broncos 

DT Terrance Knighton

Expecting that “Beast Mode” Marshawn Lynch will continue to control the field, Knighton needs to be a big part in stopping a powerful Seahawks run game. The 6’3”, 340-pound defensive tackle’s presence will need to repeat his AFC Championship Game performance, where his takedown of Tom Brady symbolized the Broncos' takedown of the vaunted Patriots. 

WR Wes Welker

While Welker may have no fears about playing in a frigid Super Bowl this Sunday, others have fears about his consistency. The last time Welker played a Super Bowl, he dropped a potentially game-changing pass. There is no doubt he is a solid and critical player in the Bronco's offense, but he won't be able to make any mistakes against the best secondary in the NFL. 

WR/Return Specialist Trindon Holliday

With a half-dozen receiving touchdowns in 32 games, Holliday has the highest special teams TD rate (5.3%) in NFL history since the 1970 merger, even ahead of Devin Hester. He's explosive, and is a game-breaking return touchdown waiting to happen. 

QB Peyton Manning

The NFC is clearly a more physical conference, which means Manning can’t only rely on his tactical strategies pre-huddle. Manning must be prepared for a far more physical game that he's seen so far before. He's 0-4 in playoff games with a kickoff temperature under 40 degrees, so it will be fascinating to see if he can shake off his personal "cold spell."

WR Demaryius Thomas

He's a mammoth of a wideout at 6'3" and 230 pounds, but also phenomenally fast. He finished a consistent season with 1,430 yards and 14 touchdowns, and coupled with Manning, it's harder to find a better QB/WR combo. He's dominated the playoffs so far in his career, and a title would be the perfect way to cap off 2013-14. 

Reach Staff Writer Durga Ghosh here.