Jimmy Garoppolo guided the New England Patriots in the first half of their preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night.

Garoppolo will start the first four games of the season with Tom Brady suspended.

He was sacked twice and went 3-for-7 on his first drive, but quickly improved. 

"I think I'm working in the right direction," Garoppolo said. "I said earlier this week, there's plenty of things I could work on, little things here and there. That's just part of being a quarterback. There are a lot of little things here and there and you want to be the best at your craft."