EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had a longer-than-expected tuneup before he begins serving a four-game suspension to open the season, playing the entire first half in the team's preseason finale against the New York Giants on Thursday.
"I'm happy I was able to play as much as I did. Coach and I talked about it and it was a good opportunity to get out there and play. I hadn't played much in the preseason, so just to get out there and feel some game action ... I think it all helps," said Brady, who hadn't played quarterback snaps in a preseason finale since 2011.
Brady played 39 snaps against the Giants and finished 16-of-26 for 166 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the 17-9 loss. His final snap was a kneel-down at the end of the second quarter.
After the game, he was asked how difficult he thinks it will be with the "uncharted waters" of serving a four-game suspension.
"I think that's a good word -- uncharted," Brady said. "So we'll just do the best we can do."
Brady said he didn't plan to leave the team with a message before his departure.
"I think our coaches do such a great job of that and we have so many great leaders on the team that have always stepped in and filled the void," Brady said. "They're going to understand what they need to do in order to win. I'll be cheering like hell."
On Thursday, coach Bill Belichick said the plan entering the game was for Brady to play the entire first half. He didn't waver from it even though starting left tackle Nate Solder left with an injury on the 10th play, which meant the club was down to its fourth and fifth tackles.
Belichick wasn't thinking about potential injury as much as Brady getting important work to prepare him for his return.
"You can't take insurance out on players. You play football, you play football," Belichick said. "I don't know how you get better playing football without playing football. You can stand around and talk about it all day -- I don't think that really makes you a better player. At some point you have to get out there and play."
Brady echoed those thoughts.
"The practices are really important, but ultimately the game decisions and getting hit, it's all about decision-making as a quarterback," he said. "You try to replicate it in practice, but at the end of the day it has to be game situations and real football. That's what these games allow you to do."
Brady took a few notable hits against the Giants and added a 10-yard scramble in the first quarter, saying, "I know I'm never going to be like Russell Wilson, but if I can make one or two of those a game, that helps us out a bit."
In all, Brady played 55 snaps in the preseason. He will start serving the suspension Saturday at 4 p.m. ET and can't have any contact with the team.