2023 Long Island EFL NFC Divisional Championship Game: #7 Chicago Bears (5-3) at #3 Carolina Panthers (6-2)

[Long island EFL]

(Long Island Electric Football League) Written By Levi Vick and Joey Pizz. Happy New Year! (Photo Left: Home of the Carolina Panthers, Downtown Charlotte, NC) We are late bringing this game to our readers and still behind in writing, but this game between Paddy Brannigan's #7-Chicago Bears (5-3) and last year's Super Bowl Champion Coach Matt Zoo-York, who coaches the #3- Carolina Panthers (6-2), is a great match up! If you have a league, put it out there on the Forum for all to read! We missed lots of reading because of the categories listed on the Forum. A category on "League Games" could be added to drive more traffic. 

The Bears are this year's Wild Card Cinderella team. This was a huge year for them because they surpassed 100 wins and to get to this game, they really battled through because of the play and success of running back Walter Payton and specialist Willie Gault. Gault finished #11 in all-purpose yards in the LIEFL with 23 touches for 1350 yards, with seven touchdowns, four for 100-yards! Payton finished #6 in NFC rushing with 39 carries for 512 yards with nine touchdowns! Chicago's front line dug deep in the trenches to play some gritty football. They opened the season winning 27-21, in overtime against the Falcons. Then they beat New Orleans 14-10, but they dropped two in a row to Green Bay 24-21, and the Las Vegas Raiders 28-24, on the road, both contenders. The Bears finished the season strong winning their 100th game against the Kansas City Chiefs 17-14! The Denver Broncos then beat the Bears in a tough game, 15-0 on several Bears mistakes back on November 22nd. Chicago clinched their season with a win over Coach Bobby Biggs Seattle Seahawks 21-17, to clinch the Wild Card spot.

Leading up  to this game, the LIEFL Historic Bears have had a rich history. The last time Chicago saw a playoff game was in 2000, when they went (10-4), beating the Miami Dolphins in the LIEFL-Super Bowl X, 45-38. Paddy Brannigan has to come into this huge NFC Divisional Championship Game with an attitude today and hope that his team is playing on all cylinders! They just pulled off a major upset against the #2 Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card Game, beating the Rams 35-31! Walter Payton had two 100-yard rushing games this year, one against the Packers for 176 yards with three touchdowns, and the other was against Kansas City where Payton ran for 113 yards with two touchdowns. Payton played huge in the big games, but so did Willie Gault. Gault has been steady all season long. Against the Rams Gault exploded for five touches for 338 yards with two touchdowns, both 100-yard kick returns! Chicago has a great tight end in Mike Ditka. Ditka had a BIG 58-yard touchdown pass against the Rams, and he's as dangerous on the outside as any receiver in the game. This game really depends on how the front line of the Bears plays. One of the best things about this team is they play every minute and give their all!

The Panthers are a whole different beast and one of the favorites to make it to the Super Bowl because of their lethal combination on special teams, and their running game is super with DeShaun Foster and Greg Jones. 

Something feels different about the Panthers this year. They've had some big moments, and most recently when they beat the Cowboys 48-47 in the NFC Wild Card Game. That was an incredible playoff game! It showed Carolina's resilience, but it shouldn't surprise anybody with the coaching of last year's Super Bowl Champion, Matt-Zoo York. Carolina is a very exciting team. They started off the season winning three straight before losing to Indianapolis 14-10, but on November 11th, the Panthers beat their division rival Tampa Bay Bucs in Tampa Bay 34-28 in overtime, and we knew they were not going to quit in a game. After that, they also beat division rival Atlanta Falcons 21-17, and then a "red hot" Houston Texans team 17-10! They have set a blaze to the NFC!

This should be a great test going for the Panthers up against the Chicago Bears because the game could go either way. Just like the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Game. One thing the Bears will have a challenge stopping is the Panthers rushing game. LIEFL-All Pro running back DeShaun Foster had two 100-yard rushing games during the regular season, and Foster also had the longest run of the season, a record 70-yard run, which was just broken by Falcons Gerald Riggs who ran an 89 yard run in the NFC Wild Card Game against Green Bay. Foster finished the season as the #3 Ranked rusher in the NFC with 38 rushes for 629 yards, including 12 touchdowns. He has been sensational!  And so has Greg Jones, who everybody in the league wants, but not so fast, Matt Zoo-York is not ready to give him up yet. Jones ranked 18th in all purpose yards in the LIEFL with 23 touches for 1133 all purpose yards with four touchdowns, including a 100-yard touchdown run. This is a team on the verge of exploding. Jones ranked 10th in the NFC on kick returns. 

 

In the NFC Wild Card Game against Dallas, DeShaun Foster ran for 143 yards with three touchdowns, and Jones contributed by touching the ball seven times for 461 all-purpose yards with two 100 yard touchdown scampers. That's a combined 604 total yards with five touchdowns coming at the Bears between the two stars! No Fear from Brannigan and his Bears. They are excited to get this game on with and go after the Panthers.

PANTHERS ADVANCE TO NFC CG AFTER RALLY TO BEAT BEARS IN OT! 

The kickoff in this game is highly anticipated! The winner will of this game will head to the NFC Championship Game to play the #5 Atlanta Falcons who are on fire! Atlanta upset the #4 Green Bay Packers 24-14, in the NFC Wild Card Game, and they bombed the #1 Washington Redskins in the biggest upset of the year 30-24, in the NFC Divisional Championship Game! Falcons running back Gerald Riggs has a total 30 touches for 704 all-purpose yards with four touchdowns. One of his runs set a new playoff record. He bolted 89 yards on a run against the almighty Redskins!

Johnny-Freeport's "Dirty Birds" are flying high! Freeport has coached brilliantly with the Ravens and Falcons. He says he's ready for the winner of this game and he's anxious to get back on the field regardless of who is in his way. His Atlanta Falcons beat the #4 and #1 Seeds, so he is hungry for more with lots to prove. Freeport wants a rematch in the NFC Championship Game with Carolina, who beat the Falcons 21-17, in Week#6 of the LIEFL regular season.

On the opening kick off Greg Jones returned the opening kick off 23-yards where he was clobbered by Bears tight end Mike Ditka who was blazing downfield. Great play by the Bears! 

The Panthers DeShaun Foster exploded 44 yards to the 35-yard line of Chicago on first down! Want to run! Carolina's Frontline hs such speed and power that they ran right through the Bears unexpectedly. On first down, Foster ran for another 20 yards, for another first down! And it didn't get any better for the Bears defense after making several adjustments. Coach Paddy Brannigan was working on the right combination on the line matchups to find a balance. On the next play, Foster took in a 15-yard touchdown to give the Panthers the 7-0 lead! 

For the remainder of the quarter the Bears used up all the time. LIEFL All-Pro Willie Gault ran back a fantastic 81 yard opening kickoff for the Bears! On the Bears opening drive, Walter Payton ran into a wall of Carolina defenders led by LIEFL All-Pro lineman and Pro Bowl Starter Kawaan Short. The Panthers defense stopped Payton on three straight runs. But on 4th down, Coach Brannigan threw a rocket to an open Willie Gault for a 28-yard first down. It would be tight end Mike Ditka who would score the Bears first touchdown on a 13-yard touchdown reception to end the first quarter, 7-7, the game is tied! 

This time on the kick return Greg Jones returned it 53 yards and the Carolina running attack began. On first down, DeShaun Foster blasted through the line for 16 yards and he did the same thing with the same exact yardage on second down, for another first down.  The Panthers offense are electrifying. The Chicago defense has to figure this out. The Panthers are at 16 yard line of Chicago with 8:08 remaining in the half.  Brannigan switched his linebackers around and started to make big moves taking players out of their normal spots. Great choices for the Veteran Brannigan.  He put Mike Singletary in the middle behind Richard Dent, who he move to center and nose, and then he and Brian Urlacher on the outside linebacker position. The Bears did everything they could on defense, which slowed up the run a little bit. On first down, Foster ran for another 8 yards to the 8 yard line of Chicago. The Panthers kept moving forward. On second down, Foster exploded again, this time into the end zone to give the Panthers the lead 14-7 on a very impressive drive!

With time running out of the half the Bears and Willie Gault returned to 54 yard blazing kick return whizzing past defenders on a beautiful play. The Bears found a way to get a few yards. Walter Payton ran 4-yards, but then he was stopped on second down. On 3rd down, it was Willie Gault again who exploded on the outside lane, and then he cut right towards the middle of the field for a 45-yard electrifying touchdown play by Paddy Brannigan and his Bears, tying the score at 14-14, with 2:01 remaining in a half!

The Panthers call their first of two timeouts! Coach Patty Branigan was being very strategic here in a nail biter. Matt Zoo-York has to be very careful here. Carolina needs a big play before the half because the Bears will be receiving the ball to begin the third quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff Bears tackle Steve McMichael, made a huge hit on Greg Jones stopping Jones at the 35-yard line on the kick return. The Panthers were forced to call their last time out of the half. On first down, with his back against the wall, Matt Zoo-York delivered a 65-yard touchdown pass to DeShaun Foster to give the Panthers the lead 21-14, with 1:25 remaining in the half! The Bears called their first time out with one more remaining in the half! Wow! The Bears would close the half with a field goal to make the score Panther 21 - Bears 17 at the half!

 

To kick off the second half Willie Gault flew to the 47-yard line. and he was hit hard by linebacker Sam Mills for the Panthers. 

The Bears running game ignited on first down, with a 26-yard first down by Walter Payton. On the next two plays Chicago got clobbered by the Carolina defense again, bringing the ball back to the 48 yard line almost to midfield. And on third down, Mike Ditka broke Free and made an amazing 33-yard first down by just crossing over the first down marker! The Bears have no quit in them!  On first down, Chicago aired it out and Willie Gault broke Free at the 25-yard line, scoring a beautiful touchdown for the Bears who take the lead for the first time in the game 24-21, with 2:13 remaining in the third quarter! Chicago knows better than to get too confident against this explosive Carolina team.

 

Craig Jones launched from the end zone to the 30-yard line where he was about to go out of bounds, but he was turned in by DeShaun Foster and Jones darted right back toward the endzone for a 100-yard touchdown return to put the Panthers back in the lead 28 24! What a great play by this tandem, almost on cue! The third quarter ended!

There are just 15 minutes left to go in the NFC Divisional Game and it's been exactly what we expected!

Here come the fireworks! Willie Gault exploded on a tremendous 100- yard blazing touchdown run, handing the Panthers an unexpected special delivery Christmas present! Holy cow! Gault is on fire! The Bears we take the lead 31-28 with 14:48 left in the game, in another Blockbuster 2023 LIEFL playoff game! That run was so fast! 

Greg Jones ran back of 42 yard kick return for the Panthers opening drive in the 4th quarter. On first down, DeShaun Foster was hit hard in the backfield by Willie Gault, who made a great play for an 8-yard loss with 12:11 left in the game. Carolina Coach Matt Zoo-York knows how to pass great with the Tudor "Yellow Kicker". Zoo hit Panthers receiver Keary Colbert on a 68-yard pass reception on second down for a huge touchdown by Carolina! Keary who? The Panthers take the lead 34-31 and they're calling for a two-point conversion! What a play by Colbert! DeShaun Foster escaped at the two yard line for the two-point conversion to give the Panthers the lead 36- 31! Unreal! The Bears refuse to die against a relentless Panthers offense!

This is going to be some finish. Willie Gault returned the football 46 yards after the Panthers scored. But what the Bears did next is what they've done in four separate occasions this year with their backs against the wall. Oh no he didn't! Walter Payton exploded for a 47-yard first down to the 7-yard line with 2:32 remaining in the game and the Bears just letting the clock tick away. The Panthers called a timeout with 2:11 remaining in the game. The game is exhausting.

On the next play, Walter Payton escaped into the end zone for the touchdown on first down to give the Bears the lead 37-36 Chicago is going to go for the two-point conversion. Carolina called their last time out of the game with 1:59 remaining in the game! Just like that, Mike Ditka caught a pass in the corner of the endzone for the two-point conversion in to give the Bears the lead 39-36!

The Panthers have no timeouts remaining and the Bears have both of theirs still. What great play making by Patty Brannigan and Matt Zoo York right down to the wire! It seems the only strategy left at this point is for the Panthers to get as much ground yardage on the kick return with possibly one chance to throw a pass and kick a field goal to tie the game. The Bears have to manage their timeouts properly in the event that there's some time left where they can get down field and kick a field goal of their own. It should be interesting.

 

After a poor kick return by Greg Jones to the Panthers own 35-yard line, on first down Keary Colbert broke open for a 38-yard reception but Willie Gault made an awesome play stopping Colbert from scoring tackling Colbert at the 26-yard line of the Bears sending the game into overtime! WOW!

 

CAROLINA WINS THE COIN FLIP and they elect to receive the ball in their home endzone! Unbelievable!

 

There will be a 10-minute overtime quarter. Should the Panthers score a touchdown the game would be over. Greg Jones returned a stunning 58-yard kickoff return to start the overtime! On first down, DeShaun Foster ran for seven yards. The Bears stopped the Panthers on second down at the Chicago 40 yard line. Oh my goodness, with double coverage on him Keary Colbert becomes the hero on a 40-yard pass touchdown to win the game at 4:32 in overtime! Unreal! The Carolina Panthers (7-2) are going to the NFC Championship Game to face their division rival Atlanta Falcons (7-2) in a tremendous showdown! Boy did the Bears play their hearts out! 

 

Final score Carolina 45 Chicago 39 in 4:32 of overtime! This Chicago team is one player or two players short of winning a Super Bowl and they proved today, they could play with anybody! The playoffs are brutal!

 

Bears star Willie Gault touched the ball eight times for 485 all-purpose yards with three touchdowns, including a 100-yard touchdown return!

Walter Payton rushed the ball 12 times for 91 yards with one touchdown. And Mike Ditka touched the ball four times for 54 yards with a touchdown!

The Panthers lit it up in the first quarter but the Bears defense slowed them down in the second half.

DeShaun Foster for the Panthers rushed for 126 yards in the first half rushing, but he was completely shut down and contained by the Chicago defense in the second half on some great moves by coach Paddy Brannigan for the Bears. Foster finished 14 for 134 yards rushing with two touchdowns, and Foster had another touchdown on a beautiful 65-yard touchdown reception for his third touchdown of the game. Greg Jones was masterful with seven touches for 346-all purpose yards, including a 100 yard kick return, but he too was slowed up in the second half. The game winner for the Panthers was Keary Colbert who came out of nowhere for Carolina. Colbert had three receptions for a whopping 148 yards with two touchdowns including a 68-yard touchdown play and the game winning 42 yard touchdown catch!

 

Terrific playoff game! The Los Angeles Chargers (8-1) await the winner of the Panthers-Falcons NFC Championship Game!

What a Super Bowl we're going to have!

[Terry43]

1 hour ago, Long island EFL said:

with 2:32 remaining in the game and the Bears just letting the clock tick away. The Panthers called a timeout with 2:11 remaining in the game. The game is exhausting.

Two Questions.

Billy O'C wrote in one of his Pre-season posts that offense and defense have only 40 seconds to set up and this keeps the game moving fast. Coaches have to think on their feet.  In that 40 seconds do the coaches adjust offensive line blocking schemes? Or is the offensive line set up the same on every play?

Second, what kind of a clock do you have? I don't think I've seen it in any of the pictures.

Exhausted is exactly how I feel after a game. 😃👍

Enjoy the Journey to Florida or wherever the LIEFL lands.   T43.    ⚡🏈♾️

[Long island EFL]

YES! WE HAVE TWO CLOCKS GLUED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BACKBOARD ON THE MAIN FIELD AND A TABLE NEXT TO OTHER BOARDS WHERE THE DEFENSE RESETS THE 40 SECOND CLOCK, AND THE OFFENSE THE 15M CLOCK ....ONE IS THE 40 SEC TIMER, THE OTHER IS THE 15 MIN TIMER. YOU WILL SEE IT IN THE SUPER BOWL PICTURES.

THE OFFENSE SETS UP AT THE SAME TIME 40 SEC--THE DEFENSE SETS UP LAST AND WHATEVER ADJUSTMENTS ARE MADE MUST BE MADE BY BOTH OFFENSE AND DEFENSE AT THE SAME TIME WITHIN THE GIVEN TIME WITH NO ACCEPTATIONS TO THE RULE. WE PLAY BY OUR RULES NOT TUDOR RULES! I HAVE PLAYED IN A NUMBER OF LEAGUES AND TOURNAMENTS IN THE NORTHEAST, AND I THINK BY FAR THIS IS AS COMPETITIVE AS ANY LEAGUE I HAVE EVER COMPETED IN, WITH THE BEST RULES. EVERY COACH HAS  DIFFERENT WAY OF DEALING WITH SETUPS AND TIME BUT THERE IS NEVER A COUNTDOWN ALLOWED--EVER. WE SET, WE PLAY, WE ALLOW ONE STOP TO PASS, NOT MULTIPLE STOPS, AND WE USE THE YELLOW TUDOR KICKER TO PASS, AND THE GAME GOES AT A FAST PACE. LEVI

[nefgm.org]

11 hours ago, Long island EFL said:

WE PLAY BY OUR RULES NOT TUDOR RULES! I HAVE PLAYED IN A NUMBER OF LEAGUES AND TOURNAMENTS IN THE NORTHEAST, AND I THINK BY FAR THIS IS AS COMPETITIVE AS ANY LEAGUE I HAVE EVER COMPETED IN, WITH THE BEST RULES. 

Awesome!! Do you have a written set of rules that I could get a copy of for inclusion in the NEFGM Library Rules Files? Thanks. 

[Long island EFL]

19 hours ago, nefgm.org said:

Awesome!! Do you have a written set of rules that I could get a copy of for inclusion in the NEFGM Library Rules Files? Thanks. 

Yes.I think they are on our league page, but will check after we write up the Super Bowl!