The American Football League existed in various forms and various times from 1926-1969. Sometimes the AFL would be a rival Pro Football league, and compete directly with the NFL. Such was the case in 1926, 1936-1937, 1940-1941, and 1960-1969.  Other times it would be a Semi-Pro Football league, and would not compete directly with the NFL, but would be more of a farm system for the NFL Clubs.  Such was the case in 1947.  As usual, there were some changes in the AFL in 1947.  Akron left the AFL in early 1947, leaving Newark as the Chicago
Bears’ primary farm team.  Newark moved to Bloomfield, New Jersey, and became the Cardinals. Similarly, the Scranton Minors moved to Wilkes-Barre and became the Barons.  The league retained its divisional setup despite having only seven teams.  The Long Island Indians
dropped out after three games; they were replaced by the Richmond Rebels, which started the season competing in the Dixie League.  The defection reduced the Dixie League to just three members, and another long-standing minor league (founded 1936) folded within a week.
On the field, the Paterson Panthers (8-2-0) would take the Eastern Division by two games over the second-place Bloomfield Cardinals (6-4-0) and the Bethlehem Bulldogs (8-1-0) would run away with the Western Division, finishing five games over the second-place Wilmington Clippers (2-5-1). Bethlehem would have little trouble with the Paterson Panthers, easily taking the Championship Game 23-7 to lay claim to the 1947 AFL Championship.