Trying to stop the Cardinals wide receivers is no easy task for the Seahawks

A game can be a measuring stick for a team, a chance to gauge its ability or development.

Today is much more serious than that for the Seahawks.

This is the Seahawks' chance to measure up against the team that ended their four-year run atop the NFC West last season and their pair of game-breaking receivers. Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald is 6 feet 3 with hands as strong as vise grips. Teammate Anquan Boldin is 217 pounds and treats every reception like a handoff, looking for someone to run over.

"We understand the challenge," Seahawks coach Jim Mora said.

Mora remembers the last time those two were in town with the Cardinals. He was coaching Seattle's secondary and Fitzgerald and Boldin spent three hours or so catching passes with impunity. Boldin caught 13 passes for 186 yards, Fitzgerald hauled in 10 for 151 yards and the Cardinals won a game that for all intents and purposes decided the division.

Seattle's leading receiver that day? Deion Branch. He caught four balls.

How Seattle stacks up against that two-pronged receiving threat today will be a determining factor in whether Seattle can measure up to the defending NFC champions.

A victory gives Seattle a 3-3 record and a fresh start to the season heading into its bye week. A loss and Seattle is 2-4 with four of its next five games on the road.

The importance of this game is like Arizona's receivers. It's tough to overstate their significance.

Two years as secondary coach taught Mora what it's like to prepare for this type of passing attack.

"Daunting," Mora said.

How about preparing for the Cardinals as head coach?

"More daunting," Mora said.

Not overly technical, but certainly accurate.

There is no middle ground with the Cardinals. Actually, there's not much ground game either way. They're allowing a league-low 56 yards rushing and a league-high 303 yards passing. Only San Diego is averaging fewer rushing yards than Arizona, but don't let that fool you. The Cardinals can move the ball, ranking third in the league in passing offense. Three players have more than 200 yards receiving.

"It's high-octane," Mora said, "It's powerful. It's tough to stop."

Seattle will be missing top cornerback Marcus Trufant for at least one more game. He is on the physically unable to perform list because of a back injury, eligible to begin practicing only after today's game.

No. 2 cornerback Ken Lucas missed practice this week, returning home to Mississippi after his father's death. He is expected to play today, but there was no announcement that he will start. Lucas is an aggressive, physical corner who prides himself on his coverage. He's also a nine-year veteran who'll be trying to keep pace.

The team's first-team cornerbacks this week were 5-9 Josh Wilson and 180-pound Kelly Jennings, preparing for the sizable challenge they'll face.

"You've got to try to get body position and attack the ball before they do," Jennings said.

Height helps a receiver, and size matters, but those aren't the only factors.

"You've got to be able to make plays no matter what," Wilson said. "If you go out there, and you only can play against smaller guys, you're not going to last in this league very long."

Today, the Seahawks will try to measure up against one of the league's most formidable receiving tandems in a game that is pivotal to Seattle's season.

Danny O'Neil: 206-464-2364 or doneil@seattletimes.com