The Cleveland Browns completed one of the most futile seasons in NFL history a year ago.

Ten teams have gone 1-15 in NFL history. Two of those teams started the season with 14 consecutive losses - the Browns and the 1980 New Orleans Saints. The 2001 Carolina Panthers won their season opener and dropped the final 15 games.

Based on history, there is reason for optimism in Cleveland.

The ten teams to go 1-15, on average, have won 6.5 games during the following season. The 2008 Miami Dolphins had 11 victories. The 1981 Saints had just four wins. All others have been somewhere in between.

Here are the records of 1-15 teams in the following season:

New Orleans Saints (1981): 4-12

Dallas Cowboys (1990): 7-9

New England Patriots (1991): 6-10

Indianapolis Colts (1992): 9-7

New York Jets (1997): 9-7

San Diego Chargers (2001): 5-11

Carolina Panthers (2002): 7-9

Miami Dolphins (2008): 11-5

St. Louis Rams (2010): 7-9

Hue Jackson's Browns also went 0-4 during the pre-season. Although it means nothing, it might serve the team well to get a win or two during the pre-season this year.

Cleveland's season opens on Sep. 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.