The Raiders will have a new starting quarterback for a third straight season.
The makeover defense has nine new starters.
There is a new offensive coordinator (Greg Olson), new offensive line coach (Tony Sparano) and new special teams coordinator (Bobby April).
Jettisoned from the 2012 roster are former starters quarterback Carson Palmer, wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, defensive tackles Richard Seymour and Tommy Kelly and defensive back Michael Huff. Longtime Raiders punter Shane Lechler (Texans) and linebacker Philip Wheeler (Dolphins) signed lucrative free-agent contracts with other teams.
Coming off a 4-12 season, second-year head coach Dennis Allen and second-year general manager Reggie McKenzie have re-tooled a Raiders roster that appears to be lacking Pro Bowl-caliber talent at many positions.
With a corps of young players such as strong safety Tyvon Branch, center Stefen Wisniewski, wide receiver Rod Streater and defensive end Lamarr Houston, the Raiders are hoping to lay the building blocks for better seasons ahead.
Here's a capsule outlook of the Raiders' 2013 season:
Flynn started the first three preseason games and played mostly with and against starters, while Pryor was in mostly with second-team players. Pryor was only 3 of 8 passing for 31 yards in his only start, against Seattle on Aug. 29.
In three exhibition games, Flynn was 19 of 27 passing (70.4 percent) for 180 yards and a touchdown with an interception. His passer rating was 70.0. In four games, Pryor was 17 of 32 passing (47.8 percent) for 221 yards with a touchdown and an interception. His passer rating was 59.5.
With 4.4 speed, Pryor's versatility as a runner gives the Raiders an added dimension at the quarterback position. In the preseason, Pryor was sacked four times and had 131 rushing yards (second best on the team) on 14 carries while Flynn was sacked a team-high seven times and contributed 19 rushing yards on four carries.
The Raiders have only one prime-time game — against the host Denver Broncos — on Monday, Sept. 23 at 5:40 p.m. (Pacific) on ESPN.
Oakland plays Thanksgiving Day against the host Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Nov. 28 at 1:30 p.m. on CBS, the teams' second Turkey Day match-up in four years. The Cowboys beat the visiting Raiders 24-7 on Thanksgiving on Nov. 26, 2009.
The Raiders face only four 2012 playoff teams — Denver (twice), Houston, Indianapolis and Washington.
Oakland ranks 29th in 2013 NFL Strength of Schedule. Raiders opponents in the 2012 season had a 120-136 record for a .469 winning percentage.
Oakland plays three home games in the season's first five weeks but has four road games from Week 10 to Week 14. The Raiders close the season with three division games, two of them at home against the Chiefs and Broncos.
The Raiders’ three trips to the Eastern Time Zone are against Indianapolis in Week 1, against the Giants in Week 10 and against the Jets in Week 14. Oakland dropped all five of its games in the ETZ in 2012. In those games, the Raiders were outscored by a whopping 164-69.
"Nobody's going to give us a shot this year to do anything. But for us, if we come out and practice in a way that's going to help us go out there and win games it won't really matter what anybody else says. It'll be about what we do out here on the field."
Raiders S Charles Woodson
Will running back Darren McFadden, right, avoid injury and regain his explosive form from the 2010 season? McFadden has missed 23 games because of injury during his five NFL seasons. In 2012, he missed four games because of a sprained ankle. And even when he played, the former University of Arkansas star was inconsistent — finishing with 707 rushing yards (28th in the league) in 12 games. He averaged a career-low 3.3 yards per rush after averaging over 5.0 yards per carry the previous two seasons.
S Charles Woodson — At age 36, what can be expected of the former Green Bay Packer? Woodson, right, had only one interception in seven games with the Packers in 2012. His ballhawking, tackling ability, instincts and leadership qualities will be an upgrade for a young Raiders secondary. Woodson, the 1997 Hesiman Trophy winner from Michigan, has 55 career interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries in 206 NFL career games.
FB Marcel Reece — Finished second on the team with 52 receptions for 496 yards and a touchdown in 2012. He led all NFL running backs with 9.5 yards per catch. Because of his speed, the former University of Washington wide receiver is a load for opposing linebackers and safeties to cover coming out of the backfield.
OLB Sio Moore — The third-round draft choice from Connecticut earned a starting position during training camp. Not even being assigned ex-Raider Rolando McClain's No. 55 jersey has slowed down the precocious Moore.
RB Rashad Jennings — If Darren McFadden is sidelined by injury, Jennings could see extended action. He has 994 rushing yards and seven touchdowns and 61 catches for 454 yards in four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
DE Lamarr Houston — Must generate a more consistent pass rush than the 2012 season when he had a team-leading 4.5 sacks. In three seasons as a Raider, the former University of Texas star has 10.5 sacks in 48 games. With veteran defensive tackles Richard Seymour and Tommy Kelly no longer on the roster, Houston emerges as the leader of Oakland's defensive line.
The Raiders have a dubious streak of 10 consecutive non-winning seasons. Oakland has not had a winning record since the 2002 season when it went 12-4 en route to a berth in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Kicker Sebastian Janikowski and 2009 defensive player of the year Charles Woodson are the only remaining links to the Raiders last playoff appearance in 2002. Woodson returned to Oakland as a free agent after spending the last five seasons in Green Bay.
In the 2012 season five opposing backs rushed for 100 or more yards against an Oakland defense that ranked tied for 18th against the run (118.6) and 20th in yards per carry (4.3). It was the Raiders' best finish against the run since 2002 when it ranked third.
In the 2011 season the Raiders set an NFL record with 163 penalties. In 2012, Oakland’s 108 penalties are the fewest for the franchise since it had 107 infractions in 2001, the final season under coach Jon Gruden.
Running back Darren McFadden exceeded 100 rushing yards eight times during a 15-game span in 2010 and 2011 but he has reached the 100-yard plateau only three times the past 16 games.
Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski has made 54 consecutive field goals from 40 yards or less.
The Polish Cannon last missed an attempt from under 41 yards when he was unsuccessful on a 32-yard attempt against Arizona on Sept. 26, 2010.
Terrelle Pryor (6), Darren McFadden (20),
Charles Woodson (24) & Lamarr Houston (99)
