I think it all really boils down to one thing:
Are we going to learn to make the winning plays in the clutch?
We can break down various aspects of the game, but it comes down to a mental/execution issue as much as anything. Take Duke basketball. Down five with two minutes to go, the team KNOWS it is going to win. You know Duke's going to win. The other team fears that we are going to win. And, predicably, we hit a big shot, get a big turnover, force a bad shot from the other side who is not as experienced and has doubts creeping into their minds. The "better" team wins, whether they played better that night or not for the bulk of the game.
We need to develop that in football. It takes a big break-through game, and then building on it.
Let's start in Miami.