As the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos prepare for the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII this Sunday, the nation anticipates what will be the coldest open-air Super Bowl in history. While the 48th Super Bowl closes out the NFL season, we reflect the top five highlights that dominated this football season (in no particular order):

Peyton Manning will be on most if not all of the MVP ballots this year. (Jeffrey Beall/Wikimedia Commons)

Making his third Super Bowl appearance, Manning could hardly hold a football in his right hand less than three short years ago. After four surgeries and a long recovery that forced him to sit out the 2011 season, Manning signed with the Denver Broncos in 2012 and had arguably the greatest season by a quarterback in history in 2013. Manning broke the NFL single-season record for touchdown passes with 55 TD passes, the single-season record for passing yards with 5,477, and the record for most points in a season with 606 points. With a predicted fifth MVP award, Manning also set the record for most games (nine) with four or more TD passes in a season. 

2) Colin Kaepernick Continues Stellar Running Game

Known for his excellent running game to compliment his passing game, QB Colin Kaepernick set a new record for rushing yards by a quarterback in an NFL playoff game with 181 yards against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1. Tied in the third quarter 24-24, Kaepernick found a gaping hole in the Packers' line on second down and ran 56 yards for a touchdown. Breaking Michael Vick's previous record, Kaepernick proved his dominant running abilities this season. 

3) Richard Sherman Calls Out Michael Crabtree

As Kaepernick threw his last pass of the season to Michael Crabtree, cornerback Richard Sherman not only made the most memorable play of the year, but also followed it up with multiple memorable interviews. Sherman deflected Kaepernick's pass, putting the ball back in Seattle's possession. Crabtree responded by pushing Sherman's face. After getting riled up, Sherman interviewed with Erin Andrews minutes later with an aggressive response to her question. 

"I'm the best corner in the game," said Sherman. "Crabtree, don't you open your mouth about the best," according to Fox Sports. His statements on camera after the game drew criticism of his character. While people called him a "thug," Sherman noted that this word was like the "accepted way of calling someone the N-word nowadays." Sherman also addressed his background of a Compton childhood and a Stanford schooling. Hopefully, we will see more of the Sherman Show this Sunday.

4) Miami Dolphins Expose Harassing Locker Room Culture

When tackle Jonathan Martin received a racist voicemail from teammate Richie Incognito, the Miami Dolphins were forced to suspend Incognito and to conduct an investigation. This one incident no doubt represents typical remarks that are possibly made in every locker room and never reported in the hyper-masculine culture of the NFL.

5) Super Bowl Tickets Cheapest Since 2002

For as little as $1,643 per seat, Super Bowl prices are lowering from what were originally the most expensive prices in history. As of Jan. 20, the average price was $4,049.17 and has dropped to $3,088.39 as of Jan. 28, according to Forbes. With such a highly anticipated game, it seemed the prices would stay at all time highs. But with an open-air cold venue, customers may not believe that the prices are worth it, preferring to watch their large high-definiton screens in the warmer confines of home. New York and New Jersey are reportedly "bailing out" on the huge ticket market, according to Forbes. 

As you prepare your favorite chips and dips and gather with your fellow football fans to watch what has become a secular quasi-religious holiday, here are more highlights of this season that cannot be told, but only shown with "More NFL: A Bad Lip Reading”:

Comment below your favorite moment of the 2013 season.

Reach Staff Writer Lisa Battaglia here.