It’s not what the rest of the NFL wanted to hear.

After the Patriots outlasted the Chiefs 43-40 in a shootout Sunday, Tom Brady wasn’t ready to stop having big nights with his dominant tight end, Rob Gronkowski.

“We’re playing forever,” Brady appeared to tell Gronkowski on the field in footage from NBC Boston. “You know that.”

That would be easier to do if Brady has more plays like his 4-yard touchdown run, when Chiefs linebacker Breeland Speaks had him wrapped up but let him loose in fear of getting a flag for roughing the passer. Brady’s touchdown put the Patriots up in a game they would just escape.

Later in the fourth quarter, Gronkowski hauled in a 39-yard pass from Brady with less than 45 seconds left, bringing the Patriots inside the 10-yard line. From there, they drained the rest of the clock before kicking a game-winning field goal as time expired.

Gronkowski had himself a night, catching three passes for 97 yards and stiff-arming Chiefs safety Ron Parker late in the fourth quarter to pick up a 42-yard gain and set up a Patriots field goal.

While Brady has repeatedly said he wants to play until he’s 45, the 29-year-old Gronkowski seems closer to hanging up his pads for good. He reportedly mulled retirement in the offseason before deciding he would play again. He also blocked a trade to the Lions by threatening to retire, saying Brady was the only QB he wanted to play with.