LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – After pounding the top-ranked San Jose SaberCats, 63-33, the Tampa Bay Storm moved up a spot to become the new No. 1 team of the Arena Football League Writers Association Top 8 Poll.

Tampa Bay (1-0) received 11 first-place votes and 108 points to easily outdistance the No. 2 Philadelphia Soul (1-0), which had one first-place vote and 81 points. However, the Soul made the week's biggest leap, jumping six places following a 66-35 defeat of the Austin Wranglers.

The Arizona Rattlers (1-0) also made a big move upward, going from No. 7 to No. 3 after receiving the other two first-place votes and 79 points. Arizona defeated the Grand Rapids Rampage 58-38.

Two teams moved up a spot – the No. 4 Orlando Predators (1-0) and No. 5 Las Vegas Gladiators (1-0). Orlando edged the Colorado Crush 39-36, and Las Vegas beat the Los Angeles Avengers 46-37.

The No. 6 Dallas Desperados (1-0) moved into the poll following their 66-65 victory over the Chicago Rush, which was No. 4. Chicago's loss knocked it out of the rankings.

Colorado (0-1) fell four slots to No. 7, and San Jose (0-1) tied the Georgia Force (1-0) at No. 8. Georgia moved into the poll after its 46-44 victory over the New Orleans VooDoo.

This week's schedule includes two games between ranked teams – Orlando at Arizona and Las Vegas at San Jose. Other games involving ranked teams include Georgia at Los Angeles (0-1), Grand Rapids (0-1) at Colorado, Austin (0-1) at Tampa Bay, Dallas at the New York Dragons (0-0) and Philadelphia at Chicago.

The AFLWA, founded at the start of the 2004 season, is a national organization made up of media members who cover the Arena Football League. Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal is the AFLWA's founder and executive director.