Perennial strugglers the Oakland Raiders maintained their recent poor form over the last few years as they recorded a 4-12 season for the second consecutive campaign.
Dennis Allen failed to decide on a starting quarterback as Terrelle Pryor and Matt McGloin both failed to secure the job after being given several chances to stake their claim.
Their season ended with six straight defeats as they finished bottom of the AFC West and they will once again be selecting in the top 10 of the Draft.
Sports Mole looks back at their 2013 season.
Pre-season expectations
The Raiders were tipped to struggle again in their 2013 campaign, as they lacked a quarterback to compete with the better teams in their division. Meanwhile, their defensive options lacked depth and experience as veterans Richard Seymour and Tommy Kelly left the club. Oakland picked cornerback DJ Hayden with their first-round selection in the 2013 Draft, as they traded back to gain more picks from the Miami Dolphins, despite concerns over his health. Manchester-born Menelik Watson also joined the team with their second-round pick as new general manager Reggie McKenzie tried to restore depth to their lineup. Charles Woodson and Tracy Porter were also added in free agency to try to shore up the secondary.
Highlight of the season
There weren't too many highlights in the Raiders' four-win campaign but their victory over the San Diego Chargers was a bright spot. As Pryor had one of the best games of his season as he completed 18 out of 23 passes for two touchdowns, while the Raiders defense picked off Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers three times limiting his offense to just 17 points. Allen's side put up 27 of their own in what turned out to be a comfortable 10-point win. Pryor also played a prominent role in his side's other big victory as they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he ran for 80 yards and a touchdown on the first play of the game.
Biggest disappointment
Holding a six-point lead in tight game with the New York Giants, the Raiders had the opportunity to kill the game with a scoring drive against Tom Coughlin's struggling side. Pryor had the ball at Giants' 36-yard line and was close to moving his side into field-goal range at the least, but his pass intended for Denarius Moore was picked off by Terrell Thomas and returned to the one-yard line. Andre Brown ran in for the one-yard score to put the Giants ahead and they didn't let it slip as they held out for a four-point win. Although the Raiders did win the next week to move them to 4-6, victory against the Giants could have kept them in contention with the likes of the Chargers who went to playoffs with a 9-7 record.
Player of the season
Rashad Jennings stepped in for first-choice running back Darren McFadden when he was struck down with injury and impressed in what was to be a poor offensive showing from the Raiders for the majority of the season. Despite the limited talent around him the back made plays by himself, including a 150-yard performance in his side's win over the Houston Texans. The 28-year-old also made tough yards when he needed to, as he scored two of his six touchdowns on the season, from the one-yard line against the Dallas Cowboys in a narrow defeat. Jennings had a total of 733 yards at 4.5 yards a carry, and would have surpassed 1,000 yards had he started the season as the Raiders number one back.
Unsung hero Nick Roach wasn't turning many heads in free agency but he became the lynchpin of the Raiders' defense in the 2013 season. He simply made plays when he needed to as his role expanded from his time with the Chicago Bears. Roach did his best to inspire his teammates as he made 112 tackles, 5.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and an interception, but it didn't prove to be enough as their defense was ranked 22nd overall in the NFL in yards allowed. The 28-year-old has become the player the Raiders can build their defense around for the next few seasons at least.
Off-season changes
A new quarterback is a must for the Raiders as Pryor and McGloin proved they're not the answer for the club. So the Raiders must either try to unearth a starter from free agency, where the pickings look incredibly slim, or the via the Draft and take their chances on a young quarterback. There aren't many proven commodities there so it will be a gamble no matter what they do. Allen's side also need an influx of talent around the quarterback. Receivers Andre Holmes and Denarius Moore flashed at times along with Rod Streater, who was their most consistent wideout, but with the talent available in free agency and the Draft they may also consider selecting more talent at the position. Defensive line could also be a need if they fail to re-sign Lamarr Houston, who is a free agent.
2014 prospects
Even if the Raiders manage to secure a quarterback they could be in for another struggle. They are in arguably the toughest division in the AFC with playoff teams from the 2013 season. There are far too many holes on the Raiders roster to cover in one off-season, so it will continue to be a slow and steady rebuild for McKenzie and Allen, but they have to fo better than the 2013 campaign to survive to see another year.
