CINCINNATI – Finally in the end zone after his second long interception return, Antrel Rolle didn’t know what to do next. The Arizona Cardinals cornerback had never done anything like it in the NFL.

A cartwheel, back-flip and flop sufficed for his impromptu celebration.

Rolle scored on interception returns of 55 and 54 yards yesterday – and had another interception return wiped out by penalty – in a 35-27 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals that got the Cardinals back to .500 and kept them in the NFC West race.

No one relished it more than Rolle, a first-round draft pick in 2005 who had struggled to stay healthy and make plays.

“It just goes to show that character is your biggest asset,” said Rolle, who had two career interceptions coming into the game. “I never pouted, never ranted and raved, never became a cancer to this team.”

Yesterday, he became its playmaker.

Rolle finished off the game with his third interception, returning Carson Palmer’s pass 71 yards for an apparent touchdown. The score was nullified by a penalty on Antonio Smith for taking Palmer down during the return, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Rolle did a chest dive in the end zone anyway, finishing off his amazing day.

“I never had a game like he did, not even in high school,” cornerback Eric Green said. “I’m so happy for him.”

After a three-game fade, Arizona (5-5) has rebounded by winning two in a row, matching its win total for each of the last two seasons.

The latest showed off its young cornerback’s athleticism and its 36-year-old quarterback’s improvisation.

Rolle, the second cornerback taken in the 2005 draft behind Pacman Jones, became the first player to return two interceptions for touchdowns against the Bengals (3-7), who made plenty of big plays but couldn’t overcome Palmer’s career-high four interceptions.