ATLANTA — During his first two seasons with the Texans, quarterback Deshaun Watson spent so much time watching Tom Brady you would think they played in the same division.

In 2017, the Texans practiced against New England two times and played the Patriots in the preseason and regular season. The Texans began this season with a loss at Gillette Stadium.

Brady won the first of his five Super Bowls in his second season and his first as a starter.

In his second season, Watson helped the Texans finish 11-5 and win the AFC South before they suffered an embarrassing loss to Indianapolis in the wild-card round.

On Sunday, Watson will be watching Brady play against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII.

This week, Watson has made the rounds on radio row to promote Old Spice at a second consecutive Super Bowl. He took a break Tuesday to talk about Brady and his Super Bowl counterpart, Jared Goff.

“He’s so special,” Watson said of Brady, dragging out the so. “He’s the GOAT.”

There’s no disputing that Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time. This is his ninth Super Bowl, and he’s trying to win a sixth Lombardi Trophy.

Watson admits to being a big Brady fan.

“I’ve been fortunate to be able to see him do it for so long,” he said. “He always plays at such a high level.”

At 41, Brady threw for 4,355 yards and completed 65.8 percent this season. He threw 29 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. His average per attempt was 7.6 yards, and his rating was 97.7.

At 23, Watson threw for 4,165 yards and completed 68.3 percent. He threw 26 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. His average per attempt was 8.0, and his rating was 103.1. Watson also ran for 551 yards and five touchdowns.

The difference is that Brady is still playing, performing exceptionally well in the playoffs and trying to add to his ring collection. If the Patriots defeat the Rams, there’s a good chance Brady will be voted Super Bowl MVP. Again.

“You have to give him respect for the things he’s doing,” Watson said. “He’s hard to beat. He’s a quarterback you want to model your game after.”

Brady is happy to offer advice to young quarterbacks. He’s done it with Watson. He sought out Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes after the Patriots beat the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

“The advice he gave me was to work hard, continue to do what helped me get here and don’t listen to outside noise,” Watson said. “Put in the work and feel like you’re the underdog at whatever you do. If you have that mindset, you’ll be able to prove people wrong.”

Brady has adopted the underdog role in the playoffs, although no one outside of Foxborough, Mass., is buying into it. When Brady plays in his third consecutive Super Bowl on Sunday — and his fourth in five years — Watson will be watching and learning.

Watson was asked what he would like to learn from Brady that would help him take that next step in his development.

“Understanding what defenses are doing,” he said. “And taking advantage of hitting running backs on underneath routes.”

Brady utilizes running back James White in the passing game, and it makes the Patriots even more versatile and dangerous.

“Something I wasn’t doing early in the season but did more of at the end of the season was hitting the running backs and creating a lot of different plays,” Watson said. “And making the right checks and calls and being successful at getting us into the right plays.”

Watson hasn’t seen much of Goff. When the Texans lost to the Rams at Los Angeles during the 2017 season, Watson was recuperating from knee surgery. When the Texans played the Rams last August in preseason, Goff did not play.

“I’ve got to watch Goff a little more,” Watson said. “He’s been great for the Rams. He’s making good decisions and playing very well. He’s got good touch on his passes.”

This is Goff’s third season. Watson will enter his third season. What does Watson need to do to help the Texans improve as much as Goff and the Rams did this season?

“Go to work and grind,” he said. “Take my game to another level mentally and physically, make sure I’m ready physically and take advantage of every opportunity I get. I’m excited about it.”

john.mcclain@chron.com

twitter.com/mcclain_on_nfl