Robert Kraft used the Patriots' 1st round bye to prove he hasn't said bye to hot GF Ricki Noel Lander ... 'cause the two were spotted at a Golden Globes party together Sunday night ... and all signs point to relationship.

The sighting comes months after reports that 74-year-old Kraft pressed pause on his romance with the 30-something-year-old ... after nearly 4 years together.

But last night, Kraft and Lander looked very much like a couple ... posing for pictures at the HBO after-party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Our sources connected to the couple tell us the two may never have "officially" broken up -- but there was definitely a lull where they weren't seeing each other as much.