Bottom line: Peyton has problem's in big games (esp. against Brady/Belichick and co.) It's a psychological block. He's a statistical monster and on paper may be the best to have played the game but Eli is a much better big-game quarterback than he is and, obviously, has no fear of the Patriots.
How many of those "cold games" were also critical, late season playoff games? I mean that's generally when these cold one's happen (this one was relatively early). That's the control that's lacking from the analysis I have seen re: his "cold weather woes" (most of which, nevertheless, seem to conclude it isn't really a factor).
But who knows, maybe it is yet another psychological block and an excuse to let big ones go. But let's face it, everyone else is working under the same conditions and a majority of the blacks on the field are thin-bloods from the south (and of course they are blacks and not Europeans hence arguably less well suited for it).
Meanwhile, Brady is from a suburb in the neighborhood of San Francisco where the climate is mild year round. It's also, culturally, probably the sissiest place on earth. Sorry, Peyton needs to man up. His little bro can do it. So it's obviously not a very un-European, cold weather pussy-ness endemic to his place of origin.
Welker also did not have a great game (late-game, botched-play aside). And, of course, NE weather is not to blame.
Edelman was great. He's less of a machine than the extremely consistent Welker and may never be as good but he's got an elusiveness that may even surpass Welker's at this point in their respective careers. And he's fun to watch. When Gronk catches the ball and starts dragging players, it's evident that he is the strongest and perhaps most athletic player on the field.
Patriots are a more humbled team this year which may help them when it counts. As they may have been victims of great expectations in the past. Brady has obviously lost a step. But, honestly, I'd rather them face Peyton in a critical play off game than may be anyone else.