EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The best honor an offensive lineman can have is when his name is never uttered in an NFL game. That was pretty much the case with Demar Dotson today in a loss more painful than acid reflux.

Jeremy Trueblood, the Bucs starting right tackle, came down with a bum ankle this week and was inactive. Dotson started in place of Trueblood.

Joe was confident that the Giants would flood the right side of the Bucs offensive line with their powerful defensive linemen, led by Jason Pierre-Paul, and expose the Bucs’ flank manned by backups, including right guard Ted Larsen.

But Larsen, and Dotson, held their own against the best defensive line in the NFL. This nasty three-touchdown, fourth quarter collapse is not on their shoulders.

“It was a challenge, a big-time challenge, going out there and competing with those guys because those guys are so good,” Dotson told Joe after today’s loss. “It was an opportunity to step up.”

Dotson claimed his solid play was a result of learning from his Bucs teammates.

“I learn a lot from those guys,” Dotson said. “I learn from them all the time. I have confidence in myself so that others can have confidence in me. I work just as hard as those guys do and I think I can be a really good tackle in this league. I have to get better every day.”