With just two weeks until the start of the 2013 NFL season, NFL teams will show a glimpse of their true identities in the third week of the preseason. Across the NFC East, position battles and media circuses dictate the scope of the landscape for all four team in the NFL’s premier division. Last year’s division champions, the Washington Redskins, face off against the Buffalo Bills. The Dallas Cowboys will return home from the desert and take on the Cincinnati Bengals. The Eagles will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the New York Giants will take on their inner-city rivals the New York Jets. In a division with so much left to be decided, the last three weeks of the preseason should show a great deal about the identities of the NFL’s most popular division.

For the New York Giants, the preseason will be about finding a new identity on defense. The terror that was the Giants’ defensive line for much of the past decade has subsided, leaving a downtrodden group of patchwork defenders, Aaron Curry and other team’s rejects Cullen Jenkins . While the Jets’ pose a similar problem as if your local Girl Scout troop decided to fill in on offense, the Giants’ defense will have the opportunity to practice against a team using the newest obsession for NFL offenses: the read option. The Giants will look for a good first showing from superstar defensive ends Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul ; both of whom have missed much of the preseason due to injury. Coming off a showing on Sunday night football in week two of the preseason, the Giants will look to rebound and have their way with one of the NFL’s worst. In this clash at the new Meadowlands watch for the integrity of the Giants’ offensive line, and the play of their linebackers, as both have been major areas of concern for New York’s finest.

The Philadelphia Eagles will take I-95 South to take on Blaine Gabbert , Maurice Jones-Drew and the Jaguars. Game three could spell out the team’s offensive future, as both Nick Foles and Michael Vick will have had a start to show off their offensive repertoire. Based on the fact that most starters don’t play in the fourth preseason game, whoever starts this game will most likely start game one of the 2013 regular season.  Adapting to a depleted receiving corps won’t be easy, but the Eagles’ may have found needed depth in the form of Russell Shepard and, or Greg Salas . On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles’ will get a chance to play against one of the best running backs in the game in Jones-Drew.  The Eagles front-seven struggled mightily against the Patriots in Week one of the preseason, and should look to improve with another two weeks of practice under its belt. In this game, watch the position battle at defensive end between Vinny Curry , Cedric Thornton , and third round selection Bennie Logan . Logan is the dark horse in this race, but tallied four tackles and a sack in the Eagles’ first preseason game. In addition to defensive end, the Eagles will also continue to test Trent Cole at outside linebacker, and try new combinations in a porous secondary. While Jacksonville is no elite offense, the Eagles defense should be tested by Jones-Drew, and the explosive Cecil Shorts.

For the Dallas Cowboys, week three of the preseason will be a true test of an offense with massive potential. The Cincinnati Bengals will head to AT&T Stadium for one of the best match-ups of the third week of the preseason. Vontaze Burfict leads an impressive Bengals’ defense against a rejuvenated Cowboys’ offense. DeMarco Murray should see some playing time as he continues his recovery from last year’s season ending injury. Rookie tight end Gavin Escobar will look to find his role in Dallas’ new-look offense next to pro-bowler Jason Witten. From a defensive standpoint, sophomore Morris Claiborne will have a shot against one of the NFL’s best receivers, A.J. Green . The Cowboys will also have the opportunity to earn experience against a tough tandem of rushers: Giovani Bernard , and BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Demarcus Ware is adjusting to his new role as a defensive end and should get an extended look in week three. Dallas has the potential to be a contender this year, and will have an opportunity to show their true colors against one of the NFL’s best.

As for last year’s division champions, the Redskins face a visit from the hapless Buffalo Bills. Washington will have to defend against one of the best rushing attacks in football, led by the explosive C.J. Spiller. Rookie E.J. Manuel and veteran Kevin Kolb are still in a position battle, so expect heavy doses of both gunslingers. Outside linebacker Brian Orakpo returns after missing the entire 2012 season with a torn bicep, and will look to create havoc, and crate a viable pass-rush in D.C. The Redskins struggled a season ago in pass coverage, ranking last in the league.

The return of Orakpo should do wonders for Washington, but keep an eye on rookie Bacarri Rambo at the safety position, as he is competing for a starting job. The Redskins are primed for another contending season, but their success rides on the shoulders of sophomore quarterback Robert Griffin III. The Baylor graduate is revering from a torn ACL, but has declared his readiness to play. Regardless, Griffin will likely to be held out until the regular season as a precautionary measure. Mike Shanahan and company will need all of their weapons on the field if the Redskins hope to repeat at NFC East champions, so even if Griffin plays, don’t expect heavy doses of the young quarterback. As for two of Griffin’s biggest weapons, Fred Davis and Roy Helu look ready to bounce back from injury and add depth to an already talented offense.

With only two games until the start of the 2013 NFL season, expect starters to play more minutes, showing frequent glimpses of game plans to be used in real contests. Time for preparation grows shorter with each passing day, soon autumn will rear its multi-colored head and the sound of colliding pads will reverberate in a stadium near you.

For now fans can enjoy watching Curtis Painter push David Carr for a backup spot on the Giants, or rookie Earl Wolff battle Nate Allen for a starting safety position in Philadelphia. While the preseason can feel pointless to fans, men are playing with the utmost effort for a chance to live their dreams. The NFC East is an open competition, as not one of the four teams is considered elite. The third week of the preseason should give us the best look yet at the division, and take us one week closer to regular season football.