Help with replacing air filter for 2005 T-Bird

[Phillip]

I went to the manual, and followed the steps.

First, I loosened the hose clamp on the left of the air filter housing.
Second, I opened the two clamps on the side of the air filter housing facing the windshield.
Third, I tried to remove the air filter housing, as it says in the manual.

However, it would not budge (well, I could lift the housing top upward about an inch, but I certainly could not move it enough to take out the air filter already in there)! It seems that the side of the air filter housing closest to the front end of the car is kind of stuck, and I am afraid to do anything since it is a plastic housing and appears easily breakable. I tried a little force, but nothing!

Is the side of the air filter housing closest to the front of the car attached the bottom portion of the air filter housing in some way? According to the manual, that is not the case, but it certainly appears to be held in place someway.

Any suggestions??

Thanks.