First, the results of last week's predictions:
— NFL regular season, Cowboys-Packers. Prediction: 17.1; final rating: 16.5.
— NFL regular season, Patriots-Texans. Prediction: 13.3; final rating: 12.3.
— College football, Army-Navy. Prediction: 4.2; final rating: 4.5.
— Heisman Trophy Presentation. Prediction: 2.2; final rating: 1.9.
— Premier Boxing Champions. Prediction: 1.3; final rating: 1.1.
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This week’s predictions (all times Eastern):
NFL regular season, Jets-Cowboys (8:30 p.m. Saturday, NFLN). The Cowboys’ drawing power has endured despite a 4-9 record, with the team accounting for five of the ten highest NFL ratings this season. Big ratings are not in the cards this week, as a Saturday night time slot on NFL Network is too much even for “America’s team” to overcome. Even so, expect the numbers to approach NFL Network’s season-high of 5.5. Prediction: 5.3.
NFL regular season, mostly Broncos-Steelers (4:25 p.m. Sunday, CBS). Playoff implications abound in Sunday’s Broncos-Steelers game, which should keep ratings in line with last year — when coverage featuring 49ers-Seahawks drew a 15.7 on FOX. Prediction: 15.5.
NFL regular season, Cardinals-Eagles (8:30 p.m. Sunday, NBC). Flex scheduling has given NBC a third Cardinals game, two more than originally scheduled. While Arizona is clearly among the class of the NFC, the team’s previous appearances on NBC this season rank 14th and dead last out of the network’s 16 telecasts. Expect another below-par performance this week. Last year’s Cowboys-Eagles game had a 14.3. Prediction: 11.5.
New Orleans Bowl, Arkansas State-La. Tech (9 p.m. Saturday, ESPN). The New Orleans Bowl is not a particularly high-profile game, but last year’s 1.6 rating was respectable — topping all other games on the opening day of the bowl season. Look for a similar rating this time around. Prediction: 1.5.
UFC on FOX 17 (8 p.m. Saturday, FOX). Coming one week after the Premier Boxing Champions delivered a 1.1 rating in primetime on NBC, it would not take much for the UFC on FOX to look good by comparison. Last year’s December UFC on FOX card had a 1.6 rating. Prediction: 1.6.
Paulsen is the founder of Sports Media Watch and a contributor for Sporting News. Follow him on Twitter @Paulsen_SMW .